| April 18,
2002 |
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Authorities Investigating Early Morning Murder |
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Burke County
Sheriff's Office detectives are investigating the murder of a Morganton man
early Wednesday morning.
Mark Ellis Lambert (left), 32, of Solid Rock Cove Road was shot to death at
3829 Highway 181 North, Morganton. The home, located at the intersection
of Highway 181 and Gwaltney Road, was reportedly being rented by Jessie Lee
Proffitt. |
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| According to Burke County Sheriff John T.
McDevitt, who was on the scene, the Sheriff's Office received a call at 4:42
a.m. on April 17th reporting the shooting. When officers arrived, they found
the victim dead in the kitchen of the house from an apparent gunshot
wound. |
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| "There were witnesses inside the home who saw
the shooting," McDevitt said Thursday. "The witnesses all gave us the name of a
suspect, who turned himself in to me Wednesday afternoon after learning we were
looking for him." |
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| McDevitt said the man was questioned and later
released after detectives deemed his alibi to be credible. |
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| "The statements we received from the witnesses
at the house were not consistent with the evidence our detectives obtained,"
said the Sheriff. "We now believe the witnesses conspired together and
placed the blame on a man who was not even at the house during the time of the
shooting." |
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| McDevitt said detectives have uncovered
other leads and are close to arresting Lambert's killer. He would not release a
motive for the crime, but added that alcohol and drugs were possibly a
factor. |
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| "We found many signs of alcohol consumption and
drug use inside the house, and therein lies the problem with this case,"
McDevitt said. "Our investigators have had to wade through lies and half-truths
by impaired party-goers trying to sidetrack us. But...the truth will soon be
revealed through detailed and concise detective work." |
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| ************************************************************** |
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