Judge Alma Hinton sentenced Gorham to two consecutive life sentences for first-degree murder in the May 7 stabbing deaths of Maxine McCrary and Nancy Burgess.
The state agreed to drop charges of armed robbery with a dangerous weapon.
Captain Andy Jackson of the Roanoke Rapids Police Department told the court this morning police were dispatched to 311 Highway 158, McCrary’s home, shortly after 11:30 p.m. on May 7.
Jackson told the story of the phone call police received that night asking for a welfare check, which is also noted in court documents.
Those documents note Gorham gave a written statement admitting robbing and killing both victims. They say he used a kitchen knife and took $200.
The documents also say McCrary’s son, Jim, was speaking to Burgess between 7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. when Burgess, 65, asked him to hold on because Gorham was at the door and wanted to use the phone.
Burgess asked Jim to call back and when he did he could not get through.
Officers found both women unresponsive on the floor with stab wounds.
At Gorham’s house, which is next door, investigators found red stains that appeared to be blood on the left side of the rear storm door and found a red stain located on the lower portion of the front door.
Officers seized as evidence the following: A telephone, a cell phone, one earring from the couch, one earring from the floor, a swab from the inside backdoor, a swab from the outside backdoor, a gold purse, hair, a burgundy purse and additional swabs.
The clothes Gorham wore when he murdered the women along with the weapon were found in a dumpster at Bobby’s Supermarket, Jackson told the court.
“This was Mother’s Day weekend,” District Attorney Melissa Pelfrey told the court. “Mr. McCrary planned to go to the Roanoke Rapids area to celebrate Mother’s Day. It’s obvious they had to come for another reason.”
Grandchildren and great-grandchildren watched Gorham take the plea. “They both declined to speak to the court,” Pelfrey said, “after they were assured life means life with no possibility of parole. They were amenable to accept this plea. It’s fair to say they were a very close family.”
Jim was very involved in his 92-year-old mother’s life, Pelfrey said.
Pelfrey told the court the women sustained multiple stab wounds, “But death was instantaneous.”
Sam Dixon, one of the attorneys for Gorham, who had an alcohol and crack addiction, said his client was so remorseful he would trade his life. “Tony Gorham is so sorry this happened.”
comments
No, you didn't get to me at all. I just think your moronic rants on this forum are just so far out in left field..I knew I would get a rise out out.
Mr. Finney, do the world a favor and pull your bottom lip over your head and swallow.
It is natural for people to want the death penalty when a murder such as this is committed, but look at the facts. When someone is on death row in this country it costs the tax payers several million dollars to house them, provide not one, but 2 defense attorneys and appeal after appeal. Majority of the people on death row die before ever being executed. It costs an average $90,000/year to house a death row inmate. It costs an average of $45,000/ year to house an inmate. Life is simply the better choice for all involved. The victims families are not put through years and years of anguish and the offender is somewhere he will never hurt an innocent person again.
Sandi another thing to think about is how you could take your neighbors life. Someone that you see everyday. Someone that was nice to you and never did anything to hurt you. Maxine was a loved person in our church family. This upsets me everytime we think about it. They settled for life. But i think the Death Pentalty would of been better
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