Apr 11, 2013 | Criminal Defense, Homicide Defense, Uncategorized
A woman, who Gastonia officials say set a fire to a home that killed her mother and stepfather, has still not been located by police officials. The fire was initially ruled an accident; however, this idea has changed due to the suspicious activity of the 37-year-old suspect.
As the fire burst into a full-blown conflagration, the suspect ran out of the house, and banged on the door of the couple’s neighbors stating that her mother and stepfather were in the engulfed house. The neighbor attempted to help, but his rescue efforts were futile, as were the efforts of the Gastonia fire department. It is reported that it took 20 firefighters to get the flames under control.
The investigators have not been able to locate the daughter, who is sus
pected of causing the fire. When the woman is located, she will be charged with first-degree homicide by the Gastonia Police Department.
If you or someone close to you has committed a felony in North Carolina, and the felony is inherently dangerous (such as rape, robbery, arson, burglary, and kidnapping), and a person is killed during the commission of such felony, that felon can still be charged with first-degree murder.
In North Carolina, the felony murder rule has been implemented; so, in this case for example, the woman set a house on fire. Even if she didn’t know people were in the house, she could still be charged with first-degree homicide. The fact that she was committing an inherently dangerous felony (Arson), and people died as a result, she will likely be implicated under the felony murder rule.
So, if you have been charged with homicide, or any other criminal charge, call the law offices o Reeves, Aiken & Hightower, LLP for a consultation of your rights. You can reach our Charlotte, North Carolina office at 704-499-9000, and we will be pleased to assist you.
Apr 11, 2013 | Child Accidents, Personal Injury, Uncategorized, Wrongful Death
Salisbury’s Fire Department have just released a statement in regards to the accident that claimed the life
of a toddler early Thursday morning.
Accordingly, the firefighters report that there had been some sort of electrical issue with the victim’s portable fan that subsequently sparked an electrical fire that resulted in the fatality.
The Fire Chief stated that the Fire Department received a call from a local neighbor a little before 1:00 a.m. Thursday morning, stating that the flames were growing rapidly and engulfing the back and sides of the home.
The victims lived in a small, one-story home in a quiet neighborhood on Davis Street, that was sadly destroyed by the once small fire.
The neighbor reports that she saw two adults and two children escape the fire unscathed. However, the sense of security was quickly ruffled when the two-year-old boy did not come out of the home with the parents.
An officer quickly entered the home, through the front door where smoke and flames were everywhere. He managed to find his way to the back of the home into the child’s bedroom, where he found the toddler in his bed sleeping.
When he went to pick the child up and carry him to safety, he realized that the child was unresponsive.
In the officer’s heroic attempt, there was nothing more he could do to rescue the young boy.
The boy’s teenage sister was injured when she had to break a window and climb out to safety. The father and the officer were also injured and both later treated for smoke inhalation.
All the can be stated for certain is that the fire began in the parent’s bedroom, where they were using the portable fan to cool themselves as they rested.
The investigation of the fire still remains underway.
As we all know and appreciate, small children are the most vulnerable among us, and great care must be taken to protect their safety. Accidents can happen quickly if proper steps are not taken by those in charge of their welfare. Despite our best intentions, however, needless accidents still happen, and injuries will occur. Hopefully, the injuries will be minor.
However, if your child is seriously injured, you need to know what to do first and what to expect. The experienced child injury attorneys of Reeves, Aiken & Hightower LLP are standing by to help. For more information on your options, call us at 877-374-5999 for a private consultation to evaluate your case.
Apr 11, 2013 | Personal Injury, Uncategorized
The North Carolina Highway Patrol reported that a passenger was ejected from a van after it flipped last Thursday at around 6:45 a.m. This took place between the Sharon School Road and Old Mountain Road exits.
It has been reported that the driver fell asleep at the wheel, flying from the road, and striking a guardrail. The woman then attempted to correct the van’s path, which caused the vehicle to flip over. The injured were flown to Carolinas Medical Center.
If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident, whether a vehicle collision or any other accident that resulted in injuries, call the law offices of Reeves, Aiken & Hightower, LLP. We have over 75 years of combined experience, and have handled many personal injury cases. For a consultation, call us at our Charlotte, North Carolina office at 704-499-9000.
Apr 10, 2013 | Personal Injury, Uncategorized
Charlotte, North Carolina firefighters fought an apartment fire, and after it was finally brought under control, almost 30 units were either damaged or destroyed. The fire took place at the Sun Valley Apartment complex off Arrowood Road in southeast Charlotte around 3:00 a.m. on Wednesday. When emergency crews arrived on the scene they spotted a large cloud of smoke; however, they could not detect where the flames were coming from.
Two residents were taken to the hospital with burns, while other residents ran from their homes. Some were resting outside of the building sitting on their packed suitcases. At this point, all they could do was watch the apartment buildings burn while firefighters pulled back as the situation became too dangerous. Falling debris could be seen as the walls and the roof fell into ruin.
After the conflagration, when the fire was brought under control, it was discovered that close to 30 units were destroyed or damaged. Rescue groups arrived on the scene to help the newly homeless residents. There is no word as to how the fire started, but a couple people were injured as a result.
While it has not been discovered how this particular fire started, if it is determined to be the negligence of someone, the people who were injured may have a claim for personal injuries. For a consultation of the rights you have after such a terrible event, call the law offices of Reeves, Aiken & Hightower, LLP at our Charlotte, North Carolina office at 803-548-4444, or toll-free at 877-374-5999. We handle accident victims everyday, and welcome the opportunity to help you and your loved ones.
Apr 9, 2013 | Homicide Defense, Uncategorized
Homicide investigators in Lexington County, South Carolina report that they have charged a suspect with murder after discovering the body of a man, who had disappeared earlier in the month. He was buried in defendant’s back yard. A 26-year-old man is being charged with murder and financial fraud among other crimes.
The mother of the missing person told deputies that the man went missing on February 25, 2013. They report that the man was killed that day by a stab to the eye and neck, in addition to a fractured skull.
The man suspected of the murder allegedly took the victims car apart, and buried the body in the back yard. Another man, 40-year-old West Columbia man, was charged with accessory after the fact, manufacturing methamphetamine, and possession of marijuana. The alleged murderer is also being charged with financial fraud for selling the victim’s automobile parts.
This is a terrible result to a disastrous situation. Taking someone’s life is the worst thing a person can do criminally. However, at Reeves, Aiken & Hightower, LLP we believe that even murderers are entitled to a proper defense. If you or a loved one has been charged with such a crime, call our office in Fort Mill, South Carolina at 803-548-4444, or toll-free at 877-374-5999. We would be happy to assist you.
Apr 9, 2013 | Personal Injury, Uncategorized, Wrongful Death
A wall of dirt collapsed at a Lincoln County, North Carolina construction site this past weekend that resulted in the death of two children. The children were apparently playing in a hole on the property when a man noticed a wall of dirt collapse on them. Emergency Management Personnel were called, and the rescue began.
The emergency personnel worked at the site for hours, and the rescue mission became a recovery mission by 9:30 p.m. Neighbors in the area were huddled around the scene in hopes of seeing a child arising from the dirt mound. The earth was so impacted, that a structural engineer was brought on the scene to assist the emergency people.
The bodies had still not been identified by 10:00 p.m., and there were still many questions to resolve, including whether building permits were issued. Charlotte and Huntersville fire units also came to the scene to assist the local authorities with the search. The children are believed to be deceased. If a building permit had not been issued, this may result in the negligence of those who were building.
This accident is a parent’s worst nightmare; kids are playing and all of a sudden a dirt mound falls on them. Multiple questions go through the minds of the parents and other loved ones. A major question being, who is responsible for this? At Reeves, Aiken & Hightower, LLP, we can help to punish those who are responsible for a wrongful death, or personal injury. We are here to help you with the terrible consequences of someone else’s stupidity. Please give us a call at 803-374-4444, or toll-free at 877-374-5999. We will try to get you the compensation you deserve.
pected of causing the fire. When the woman is located, she will be charged with first-degree homicide by the Gastonia Police Department. 
