An autopsy report released this week on one of the two victims killed in a double homicide in southern Johnston County indicated the one of the victims died from shots fired from two separate guns.
Matthew Jones, 30, and Jessica Pyatte, 24, both from the Newton Grove area, were killed inside a singlewide mobile home on Unity Drive. Their bodies were found on March 10th.
The NC Medical Examiner’s Office released the autopsy on Jones this week which indicating he died from shots fired from a small caliber weapon and a shotgun. The autopsy report on Pyatte has not been publicly released.
“Based on the autopsy findings and circumstances surrounding the death, as currently understood, the cause of death is gunshot and shotgun wounds of the head and the manner of death is homicide,” the report concludes. In addition, postmortem toxicology showed no alcohol was detected in Mr. Jones’ blood.
On Friday, Johnston County Sheriff’s Office Captain Jeff Caldwell confirmed to WTSB News that two weapons were involved. Caldwell said the investigation into the double homicide was still ongoing and additional charges had not been ruled out.
Gerald Thomas Paul Jr., 21, of Erwin was charged a week after the slayings with the murders of Jones and Pyatte. Tara Nicole Wilson, 19, of Dunn was charged as an accessory.
‘A Bad Influence’
In July of last year, Mr. Paul and Ms. Wilson were arrested on methamphetamine charges at the home of Mr. Paul’s mother in Erwin.
Police reportedly found several bags of methamphetamine — totaling 2 grams — and drug paraphernalia in his room. A plastic bag containing meth was found on Ms. Wilson’s person.
Just a month before her run-in with Erwin Police, Ms. Wilson, then 18 years old, was celebrating her graduation as valedictorian from Dunn’s Faith Education Academy.
“Tara was a wonderful student here,” said Faith Education Academy co-owner Teresa Jones. “But sometimes, the outside world is just a bad influence on people.”
“We loved her as a student and we still love her,” she added.
