Wednesday morning, Moore County Sheriff Ronnie Fields held a press conference announcing the arrest of two local men in the double homicide of an elderly couple from Aberdeen.
Tony Patterson, 42, of Aberdeen, and Tim Cooper, 45, of Carthage, were arrested and each charged with two counts of murdering D.P. and Mary Lou Black.
Tony Patterson (left), a former employee of D.P. Black, and Tim Cooper were arrested on the suspicion of the murder of D.P. Black and his wife, Mary Lou. Photos via Moore County Detention Center.
The suspects are being held in the Moore County Detention Center with no bond after being arrested Tuesday night. Their first court appearance was Wednesday afternoon.
Deputies found the Blacks murdered at their home near Aberdeen~Sandhills Sentinel.
The Blacks were found deceased at their home, located on Roseland Road, on July 9 when Moore County deputies made a welfare check on the married couple after an employee of D.P. Black asked the department to check on the couple.
D.P. Black, 91, was found shot to death on his porch, and Mary Lou Black, 86, was found shot to death inside the home.
“I am very happy to report this morning that I am very confident we have the killers behind bars,” said Fields at the news conference. “We want to make sure the public knows this was not a random act of violence. We anticipate further charges including robbery, which seems to be the motive.”
Fields thanked his staff, media and everyone who called in with tips on this case.
The investigation that took just four days to make an arrest was a combined effort with several agencies, said Fields. Aberdeen Police Department helped with conducting a search of the roads, the State Bureau of Investigation sent an agent to assist, and other agencies were also involved.
“I feel this is a capital case,” said Fields. “I’m hoping and praying he goes for the death penalty. All of this has to play out in the court system, and I will leave that up to the district attorney.”
The connection between Patterson and Cooper is unclear at this time. Patterson was a former laborer for D.P. Black. This is an active investigation.
~Article and video by Sandhills Sentinel Reporter Curtis Self.
Feature photo of D.P. and Mary Lou Black from WRAL TV.
