Teen Charged with Abduction and Murder in Death of Auto Mechanic

Strategic Insights -

A 15-year-old girl has been charged with abduction and murder in the death of Joseph Ray Wood, an auto mechanic who was kidnapped in Charlotte and found dead in Randolph County. Authorities believe that Wood was killed in an apparent struggle with the teenager's boyfriend, Nathaniel Curtis Stewart IV, who is wanted in connection with the crime. The investigation revealed that Stewart had brought two cars to Wood's garage, but only one was registered in his name, and the other was stolen. A friend of Wood's recognized the stolen car, and its owner had apparently retaliated by stealing Stewart's car and burning it.

Key Takeaways:

  • A 15-year-old girl has been charged with abduction and murder in the death of Joseph Ray Wood, an auto mechanic who was kidnapped in Charlotte and found dead in Randolph County.
  • Authorities believe that Wood was killed in an apparent struggle with the teenager's boyfriend, Nathaniel Curtis Stewart IV, who is wanted in connection with the crime.
  • Stewart had brought two cars to Wood's garage, but only one was registered in his name, and the other was stolen. A friend of Wood's recognized the stolen car, and its owner had apparently retaliated by stealing Stewart's car and burning it.
  • Wood had talked to police about the stolen car, but was ultimately killed.
  • The investigation suggests that Wood may have been an innocent bystander caught up in a ring of thieves.
  • Randolph County Sheriff Litchard Hurley stated that "It looks like the mechanic got caught up innocently in this ring. It sounds like he was trying to do the right thing."

Statistics:

  • 1,300 gallons of the chemical paraxylene spilled into the Northeast Cape Fear River in a separate incident.
  • The spill occurred late Thursday at an Invista plant in New Hanover County.

Sources:

*erald Sun (Durham), "Durham man charged in shooting death", no date

  • Staff and Wire Reports, "Chemical spill cleaned up with little river damage", no date
  • Staff and Wire Reports, "Teen charged with abduction, murder", no date
  • WJLA, "Teen charged with abducting, killing mechanic", no date
  • ABC News, "Durham man arrested in connection with shooting death", no date
  • WSOC, "Man accused of stealing car, dumping friend's body", no date