Need4Speed
08-19-2005, 01:08 AM
Broad Creek woman viciously killed in home
BY ERIC STEINKOPFF
NEWS-TIMES
BROAD CREEK — An area woman was savagely killed Sunday night or Monday morning, bringing to three the number of murders Carteret County Sheriff’s Deputies have faced this year.
Dawn Arlene Cowart, 43, of 112 Sound Boulevard in the Broad Creek area was last seen in Wal-Mart about 9:30 p.m. Sunday, said Lt. Asa B. Buck III with the Sheriff’s Department.
She worked as an administrative assistant for Alan Shelor Real Estate in Atlantic Beach, and when she did not report to work Monday morning a couple of her co-workers went to her home to see if she was all right, he said.
"They found Ms. Cowart at her home a little after 1 p.m.," said Patrol Division Supervisor Lt. Buck, who added that the first officers who arrived secured the crime scene so detectives could begin an investigation.
"It appeared that she was stabbed multiple times in the face, neck and upper torso," he said.
According to a Sheriff’s report, the incident is being investigated as a homicide, and the suspect attacked Ms. Cowart by cutting her throat with a sharp object.
The body was transported to Carteret General Hospital in Morehead City, where she was pronounced dead, and then to Onslow Memorial Hospital for an autopsy Tuesday afternoon.
The medical examiner said the preliminary cause of death was massive bleeding from multiple stab wounds,
"There was no evidence of forced entry — the windows and doors were intact," said Lt. Buck, but investigators have yet to release where in the house Ms. Cowart was found and have not said if there were signs of drugs or alcohol at the scene.
They must wait for several months until the toxicology report is returned from their Raleigh lab.
According to Lt. Buck, doctors said there was no evidence of rape or recent sexual activity.
Detectives returned to the scene Tuesday to follow up on their investigation, and it is unclear if they have the murder weapon yet.
"At this time we have located some items in the home, but not made a positive identification yet," Lt. Buck said. "The medical examiner will help to determine the weapon. Even a small house is a big crime scene and we must search all areas of the house."
Officers are interviewing people who lead them to other people, so like a pebble in a pond, the ripples of their investigation spread out in all directions.
"She allegedly had a number of boyfriends, but currently was staying there by herself," Lt. Buck said. "We also have a list of a number of people we are trying to track down to speak with them to see if they have any information.
At this point they are also cross-referencing stories and alibis to confirm or refute as many as possible.
Other murders in the county this year include Mathew Wayne Inserra, 24, of Havelock who was last seen April 3 until his decomposed body turned up in the Croatan Forest off Nine Mile Road in May. Mr. Inserra had special needs, didn’t drive and needed to be cared for by others. His murder remains unsolved and authorities are still looking for his killer.
In May deputies said Lloyd Benjamin Hyman Jr., 21, of East 10th Street in Greenville came to the home of Isaac "Ike" Nathaniel Simmons, 27, of Roberts Road, Lighthouse Way Mobile Home Park in Newport. Officers said that they argued about drugs before Mr. Hyman fired several rounds of bird shot from a 12-gauge shotgun into Mr. Simmons’ stomach and lower torso.
Mr. Simmons later died of his wounds and Mr. Hyman was charged in the death, but he hid in a nearby swamp, became trapped in the mud and later died of exposure. Authorities are still looking for a woman who drove Mr. Hyman to and from the Simmons residence.
Officers asked that anyone with information Ms. Cowart’s murder, or any of the other cases, please call them at 504-4800.
Sourcehttp://www.carteretnewstimes.com/xNTLogoweb2.jpg
BY ERIC STEINKOPFF
NEWS-TIMES
BROAD CREEK — An area woman was savagely killed Sunday night or Monday morning, bringing to three the number of murders Carteret County Sheriff’s Deputies have faced this year.
Dawn Arlene Cowart, 43, of 112 Sound Boulevard in the Broad Creek area was last seen in Wal-Mart about 9:30 p.m. Sunday, said Lt. Asa B. Buck III with the Sheriff’s Department.
She worked as an administrative assistant for Alan Shelor Real Estate in Atlantic Beach, and when she did not report to work Monday morning a couple of her co-workers went to her home to see if she was all right, he said.
"They found Ms. Cowart at her home a little after 1 p.m.," said Patrol Division Supervisor Lt. Buck, who added that the first officers who arrived secured the crime scene so detectives could begin an investigation.
"It appeared that she was stabbed multiple times in the face, neck and upper torso," he said.
According to a Sheriff’s report, the incident is being investigated as a homicide, and the suspect attacked Ms. Cowart by cutting her throat with a sharp object.
The body was transported to Carteret General Hospital in Morehead City, where she was pronounced dead, and then to Onslow Memorial Hospital for an autopsy Tuesday afternoon.
The medical examiner said the preliminary cause of death was massive bleeding from multiple stab wounds,
"There was no evidence of forced entry — the windows and doors were intact," said Lt. Buck, but investigators have yet to release where in the house Ms. Cowart was found and have not said if there were signs of drugs or alcohol at the scene.
They must wait for several months until the toxicology report is returned from their Raleigh lab.
According to Lt. Buck, doctors said there was no evidence of rape or recent sexual activity.
Detectives returned to the scene Tuesday to follow up on their investigation, and it is unclear if they have the murder weapon yet.
"At this time we have located some items in the home, but not made a positive identification yet," Lt. Buck said. "The medical examiner will help to determine the weapon. Even a small house is a big crime scene and we must search all areas of the house."
Officers are interviewing people who lead them to other people, so like a pebble in a pond, the ripples of their investigation spread out in all directions.
"She allegedly had a number of boyfriends, but currently was staying there by herself," Lt. Buck said. "We also have a list of a number of people we are trying to track down to speak with them to see if they have any information.
At this point they are also cross-referencing stories and alibis to confirm or refute as many as possible.
Other murders in the county this year include Mathew Wayne Inserra, 24, of Havelock who was last seen April 3 until his decomposed body turned up in the Croatan Forest off Nine Mile Road in May. Mr. Inserra had special needs, didn’t drive and needed to be cared for by others. His murder remains unsolved and authorities are still looking for his killer.
In May deputies said Lloyd Benjamin Hyman Jr., 21, of East 10th Street in Greenville came to the home of Isaac "Ike" Nathaniel Simmons, 27, of Roberts Road, Lighthouse Way Mobile Home Park in Newport. Officers said that they argued about drugs before Mr. Hyman fired several rounds of bird shot from a 12-gauge shotgun into Mr. Simmons’ stomach and lower torso.
Mr. Simmons later died of his wounds and Mr. Hyman was charged in the death, but he hid in a nearby swamp, became trapped in the mud and later died of exposure. Authorities are still looking for a woman who drove Mr. Hyman to and from the Simmons residence.
Officers asked that anyone with information Ms. Cowart’s murder, or any of the other cases, please call them at 504-4800.
Sourcehttp://www.carteretnewstimes.com/xNTLogoweb2.jpg