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Timeline of manhunt for Michael Stroupe

Henderson County News

GRAND JURY INDICTS STROUPE FOR MURDER

A Henderson County grand jury indicted Phillip Michael Stroupe II for first degree murder on Monday in the death of Thomas Andrew Bryson, 68, of Mills River on July 26, District Attorney Greg Newman announced. Stroupe, 39, was also indicted on charges of robbery with a Dangerous Weapon and First Degree Kidnapping. His father, Phillip Michael Stroupe, Sr., was indicted on a charge of Accessory After the Fact to First Degree Murder and remains in the Henderson County Jail on a $500,000 bond. Both men are scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Hendersonville on Monday, Oct. 9. They will be advised of these charges and their attorney status will also be discussed." "This is the first step of a lengthy process," Newman said. "I met with Mrs. Bryson and one of her sons and explained to them that the legal process requires endurance and we have a considerable amount of work ahead of us just to get this case to trial. On the 9th of October, we hope to hold a conference with Judge Powell whereby I will announce the grounds that I believe exist to pursue the death penalty upon a conviction of the murder charge. We will also discuss the defendant’s legal representation. North Carolina law permits two court appointed lawyers in a case where a crime is punishable by death.” Mr. Newman added: “ The investigation in this case is still being conducted. Though Stroupe II is charged, he is not yet convicted. There remains much to be done in bringing him to justice. Members of my office, in conjunction with numerous sheriff’s departments and the NC State Bureau of Investigation, continue to diligently work to obtain evidence in these cases.” In addition to the newly indicted charges in Henderson County, Stroupe II faces multiple felony charges in Transylvania, Madison, Yancey and McDowell counties.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Moon turns day into night

ROSMAN — The moon blocked the sun on Monday afternoon, briefly turning day into night, in an astronomical show that was totality awesome.Hundreds of people who gathered at Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute did some wishing, some groaning and some cheering as intermittent cloud cover veiled the once-in-a-life time view. But in the end everyone got a good look at the moon entering the sun’s path and then emerging out the other side.“Pretty spectacular,” said Anthony Love, a research associate at PARI and geologist from Appalachian State University. “As somebody who studies meteorites and other planets for a living, it’s amazing to see.”The event at PARI, which included presentations on astronomy and eclipse history and shuttle ride to the mountaintop Optical Ridge for the celestial show, was a gift to the skywatchers from Don Cline, the owner of PARI.“His mission is to make accessible to the masses, and I can’t imagine a better way to do that than what he’s put together today.”Built in the early 1960s as NASA’s east coast satellite tracking station, the facility was turned over to the Department of Defense in 1981 and was used to collect sensitive satellite tracking before closing in 1994. In 1998 Don Cline and his wife, Jo, bought the satellite station. Since that time the Clines and donors have poured more than $25 million into improvements in the science education center.Cline provided both the play-by-play and color commentary of the event, repeatedly reminding guests not to look at the sun without protective eyewear, explaining wind direction and cloud movement and pointing out a blimp and hot air balloon that were conducting scientific experiments.The skies grew cloudy after the eclipse started. A cloud cover as the sun emerged from the moon’s shadow made for a good photo opp.The sky was not pitch black during 100 seconds of totality but dark like late dusk. The wind came up and it got cooler for the 100-second duration of the blackout.“We captured a lot of data. We’ll have to look at and we’ll be publishing it and it will be on our website,” Cline said. “As you can see, it makes for some good photographs with the clouds. I’m glad to share this facility and to have a place for people to come see this — people of all ages." He made a pitch for science fans to help fund the institute. "A lot of people think we’re funded by the government because they were for so long," he said.“PARI is the only place in the world where the total eclipse will occur directly over some of the most advanced astronomical equipment in the world: two 26-meter radio telescopes, a 4.6-meter radio telescope and a 12-meter radio telescope,” the organization said. “Because of this unique convergence, PARI will be able to conduct scientific study of a total eclipse that has never before been possible.”   Read Story »

Flat Rock News

Flat Rock opens charging station for E-vehicles

FLAT ROCK — Electric car drivers now have a new convenient charging station in the Village of Flat Rock. Funded by Duke Energy, the two EV stations are among more than 200 the utility is installing in partnerships with cities and towns that have public space available. The charging stations are in the Village Hall parking lot. "We expect our out-of-town visitors and local residents to take advantage of the new stations," Mayor Bob Staton said. "Not only will they be available 24-7 but they're easy to use." Drivers should register at chargepoint.com to open an account. A $10,000 grant from Duke covered most of the cost of the installation, which was coordinated by Vice Mayor Nick Weedman. According to Advanced Energy, a nonprofit group, there are about 7,330 electric vehicles and 938 public charging ports in North Carolina. "Adoption of EVs depends on a robust infrastructure for consumers," Duke President David Fountain said in a statement.     Read Story »

Henderson County News

E DAY: Send us your eclipse pix and stories

The Hendersonville Lightning is covering the eclipse and we bet lots of you are too. Be a part of our coverage by sending us photos and short accounts of what you saw, where you were, what was amazing, funny or inconvenient. We're interested not only in the astronomical event but how you were able to get to your watching place, what were the crowds like, what was your reaction. Send photos and words to news@hendersonvillelightning.com. Please put eclipse in the subject line. We'll feature the best photos and stories in this week's print issue and on Hendersonvillelightning.com. Thanks in advance for joining the volunteer reporting corps of the Lightning!   Read Story »

Henderson County News

KnollsCam: Wildlife camera films spotted Bambis

Thomas Brass's KnollsCam on top of Haywood Knolls caught footage of some beautiful spotted fawns. Click here to check it out.     Read Story »

Laurel Park News

Man with knife robs Wells Fargo bank in Laurel Park

LAUREL PARK — Laurel Park police, with assistance from the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office and Hendersonville Police Department, are investigating a robbery of Wells Fargo Bank in Laurel Park on Friday. The bank robbery occurred at approximately 12:30 p.m. when a man dressed in black entered the bank and jumped over the teller counter entrance. He then approached one of the tellers, armed with a knife and demanded money. The suspect exited the bank and ran away from the business center.The suspect is a male, with a medium build wearing all black attire with tennis shoes. Anyone with information was asked to contact the Laurel Park Police Department at 828-692-9399 or CrimeStoppers at 828-697-STOP (7867).   Read Story »

Henderson County News

County has a mixed record of honoring Confederacy

Unlike many county seats in the South, Hendersonville does not have a Confederate monument that dominates its courthouse square. Few Southern towns have banished their Robert E. Lee memorial to a backyard corner of the public space, as Henderson County did seven years ago. And there can’t be many that display a monument to Union soldiers alongside one honoring the boys in gray.   Read Story »

North Carolina News

McGrady to co-chair pollution investigation

State Rep. Chuck McGrady, the go-to specialist on environmental legislation in the state House, has been appointed to co-chair of a commission that will look into an industrial plant's discharge of the chemical GenX into the Cape Fear River in Bladen County.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Local man convicted in Ninth Avenue murder

A 25-year-old Hendersonville man was sentenced to 30 years in prison this week after he was convicted of second degree murder in the death of Deque DeAngelo Taylor in December 2015. Shawn C. Hollifield and Savannah Rose Walker were charged in in the death of the 28-year-old Fletcher man, whose body was thrown from a vehicle on Ninth Avenue West just as school was getting out. Walker was convicted in March and sentenced to 10 years in prison. In other convictions in the July 24-Aug. 11 term of Superior Court: Joseph L. Fleischer, of 108 Fish Hawk Drive, Hendersonville, pleaded guilty to Habitual Felon, two counts of Felony Flee/Elude Arrest with Motor Vehicle, Break or Enter Motor Vehicle, Larceny after Breaking and Entering, Felony Larceny, two counts of Larceny of a Firearm, Safecracking, Larceny of a Motor Vehicle, Conspiracy to Break and Enter Building, Felony Possession of Schedule II Controlled Substance, Simple Possession of Schedule II Controlled Substance, Possession Marijuana, Maintain Vehicle/Dwelling/Place for Controlled Substance, and Driving While License Revoked. Fleischer was sentenced to 119 months in prison. Jaquan M. Davis, of 819 1st Avenue West, Hendersonville, pleaded guilty to Attempted Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon and First Degree Burglary. Davis was sentenced to 65 months in prison. Charles M. Fleischer, of 66 Leisure Lane, East Flat Rock, pleaded guilty to Assault with a Deadly Weapon on Government Official, Felony Flee/Elude Arrest, Aggressive Driving, Possession of Marijuana, and Driving While License Revoked. Fleischer was sentenced to 43 months in prison. Marqui A. Miller, of 541 Ponder Road, Mill Spring, pleaded guilty to Habitual Impaired Driving, Possession of Firearm by Felon, Reckless Driving to Endanger, and Driving While License Revoked. Miller was sentenced to 37 months in prison. Carl. S. Heatherly, of 1014 5th Avenue West, Hendersonville, pled guilty to Fail to Report New Address of Sex Offender. Heatherly was sentenced to 37 months in prison. Dasha C. Norman, of 70 John Road, Pisgah Forest, pleaded guilty to Assault Inflicting Serious Bodily Injury. Norman was sentenced to 30 months in prison. Meisha M. Becker, of 14 Roberts Street, Fletcher, pleaded guilty to Possess / Distribute Methamphetamine Precursor. Becker was sentenced to 25 months in prison. Timothy S. Paris, of 57 Emily Drive Lot 1, Hendersonville, pleaded guilty to Possession of Methamphetamine. Paris was sentenced to 23 months in prison. Daren E. Griffin, of 324 Sugar Street, Hendersonville, pleaded guilty to Receiving Stolen Goods/Property, Possession of Stolen Firearm, Possession with Intent to Manufacture/Sell/Deliver Methamphetamine, Possession of Methamphetamine, and two counts of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Griffin was sentenced to 19 months in prison. Ryan K. Sayles, of 1679 Charlotte Highway, Fairview, pleaded guilty to Felony Attempt to Flee/Elude Arrest with Motor Vehicle. Sayles was sentenced to 17 months in prison. Elvin Antunez-Maldonado, of 40 Bumble Bee Drive, Hendersonville, pleaded guilty to Accessory After the Fact / Common Law Robbery. Antunez-Maldonado was sentenced to 15 months in prison. Steven Neal, o f132 Hidden Acres Road, Mill Spring, pleaded guilty to Misdemeanor Larceny and Disorderly Conduct. Neal was sentenced to 180 days confinement. Robert F. Reich Jr., of 164 Pleasant Grove Road, Hendersonville, pleaded guilty to Assault on a Female. Reich was sentenced to 75 days confinement. Blake Loftis, of 1538 Lincoln Circle, Hendersonville, pleaded guilty to Misdemeanor Possession of Stolen Goods/Property. Loftis was sentenced to 45 days confinement. Nancy L. Ward, of 404 Burns Creek Road, Etowah, pleaded guilty to Misdemeanor Larceny and was sentenced to five days confinement. The Superior Court judges Jeff Hunt, Tommy Davis, and Jeffrey Carpenter presided.   Read Story »

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