Murder of Chatham County couple remains unsolved 20 years later
Updated: 3:59 PM EDT Apr 21, 2025
FORECAST FOR YOU A BIT MORE COMING UP IN A BIT. AND WE CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THAT BREAKING NEWS. WE LEARNED OVERNIGHT. THE VATICAN HAS ANNOUNCED POPE FRANCIS, HISTORY’S FIRST LATIN AMERICAN PONTIFF, HAS DIED THIS MORNING. THE ANNOUNCEMENT COMES JUST ONE DAY AFTER FRANCIS GAVE THE TRADITIONAL EASTER BLESSING FROM THE BALCONY OF SAINT PETER’S BASILICA IN THE VATICAN. MARK BARGER REPORTS WITH THE LATEST. CARDINAL JORGE MARIO BERGOGLIO WAS ELECTED POPE WHEN POPE BENEDICT ABRUPTLY RESIGNED IN 2013. BERGOGLIO CHOSE THE NAME FRANCIS AFTER SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI, KNOWN FOR HIS POVERTY AND HUMILITY. FRANCIS WAS THE FIRST POPE TO COME FROM LATIN AMERICA, AND THE FIRST TO TAKE THE NAME FRANCIS. IN HIS OPENING APPEARANCE AS POPE, HE ASKED THAT PEOPLE PRAY FOR HIM. FRANCIS BECAME THE LEADER OF AN ESTIMATED 1.2 BILLION ROMAN CATHOLICS AT A TIME OF A NUMBER OF CONFLICTS FOR THE CHURCH, A SEX ABUSE SCANDAL, A FINANCIAL SCANDAL IN THE VATICAN BANK, AND CONFLICTS OVER THE ISSUES OF ABORTION, HOMOSEXUALITY, AND THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN THE CHURCH. WITHIN DAYS OF BEGINNING HIS PAPACY, FRANCIS MADE CHOICES THAT REVEALED HE WOULD BE A DIFFERENT KIND OF POPE. HE SHUNNED THE REGAL GARMENTS AND TRAPPINGS OF PREVIOUS POPES. HE PAID HIS OWN HOTEL BILL IN PERSON, AND HE CHOSE TO LIVE IN A MODEST APARTMENT INSTEAD F THE LAVISH PAPAL RESIDENCE. IT WAS CLEAR FROM THE START THAT FRANCIS LOVED INTERACTING. HE KISSED CHILDREN, WORE HATS FROM THE CROWD AND POSED FOR PICTURES. DON’T GET TIRED OF BRINGING THE MERCY OF THE FATHER TO THE POOR, THE SICK, THE ABANDONED. WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF HIS PAPACY, HE APOLOGIZED TO VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ABUSE BY PRIESTS AND SET UP A COMMITTEE THAT INCLUDED LAYPEOPLE TO INVESTIGATE SEX CRIMES BY PRIESTS. THE WAVE OF SEXUAL ABUSE SCANDALS WITHIN THE CHURCH PROVED TO BE THE GREATEST CRISIS OF FRANCIS TENURE. IN 2015, HE WAS CRITICIZED FOR SUPPORTING A CHILEAN BISHOP WHO WAS ACCUSED OF COVERING UP SEX CRIMES AGAINST MINORS. FRANCIS LATER ADMITTED MISHANDLING THE SITUATION AND ASKED FOR FORGIVENESS. ANOTHER ABUSE BOMBSHELL ROCKED THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN 2018. A SCATHING GRAND JURY REPORT DETAILED DECADES OF SEXUAL ABUSES BY PRIESTS IN PENNSYLVANIA. HOLY FATHER, A KNOWS THIS IS VERY SERIOUS. HOLY FATHER KNOWS THIS CAN SHAKE THE FAITH OF THE PEOPLE IN THE PEWS. THE VATICAN CONDEMNED THE ABUSE AS CRIMINALLY AND MORALLY REPREHENSIBLE, AND SAID POPE FRANCIS WAS ON THE SIDE OF THE VICTIMS. THROUGH IT ALL, FRANCIS MAINTAINED HIS REPUTATION AS A REFORMER. HE SET UP A HAND-PICKED COMMITTEE OF EIGHT CARDINALS TO DISCUSS REFORMING THE VATICAN BUREAUCRACY. HE MADE HEADLINES FOR HIS APPARENT ACCEPTANCE OF HOMOSEXUALITY AND FOR WARNING ABOUT THE DANGERS OF CLIMATE CHANGE. POPE FRANCIS ALSO PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN THE TALKS TO RESTORE FULL DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN THE U.S. AND CUBA. IN 2014. HE ALSO SPOKE FREQUENTLY ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF WOMEN IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, AND CHANGED THE CHURCH’S STANCE ON THE DEATH PENALTY, DECLARING IT UNACCEPTABLE IN ALL CASES. HAVING HAD PART OF ONE LUNG REMOVED AS A YOUNG MAN, FRANCIS HAD LONG BATTLED HEALTH PROBLEMS, ESPECIALLY BOUTS OF ACUTE BRONCHITIS, IN WINTER. IN RECENT YEARS, HE’S BEEN USING A WHEELCHAIR, WALKER OR CANE WHEN MOVING AROUND HIS APARTMENT. MARK BARGER, NBC NEWS. AND THE DEATH OF POPE FRANCIS HAS SET IN MOTION THE CENTURIES OLD PROCESS OF ELECTING A NEW HEAD OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. NOW, WHEN A POPE DIES, THERE IS A SERIES OF RITUALS AND PROCESSES. THE CHURCH OBSERVES A NINE DAY MOURNING PERIOD. DURING THIS TIME, POWER IS TEMPORARILY VESTED IN THE COLLEGE OF CARDINALS. NO MAJOR DECISIONS. DECISIONS ARE MADE UNTIL A NEW POPE IS ELECTED. THE POPE’S BODY IS TYPICALLY PLACED ON PUBLIC DISPLAY IN SAINT PETER’S BASILICA FOR A FEW DAYS BEFORE A FUNERAL AND BURIAL, THEN A PAPAL CONCLAVE IS HELD 15 TO 20 DAYS LATER TO ELECT A NEW POPE. THE RESULT IS ANNOUNCED TO THE WORLD WITH WHITE SMOKE. IF SUCCESSFUL. OR BLACK SMOKE, IF UNSUCCESSFUL. THE CAMERON KENT. THE CAMERLENGO THEN BREAKS THE POPE’S FISHERMAN’S RING AND PAPAL SEAL, SYMBOLIZING THE END OF HIS AUTHORITY. NOW YOU CAN STAY WITH US ON AIR AND ONLINE, OR DOWNLOAD OUR FREE WXII 12 NEWS MOBILE APP TO SEE THE LATEST ON THE DEATH OF POPE FRANCIS. STATE LAWMAKERS ARE LOOKING TO NAME THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW AS THE OFFICIAL TV SHOW OF NORTH CAROLINA. OUR ERIN BURNETT JOINS US NOW IN STUDIO. ERIN, HOW HAS THE SHOW MADE IT? FROM THE SMALL SCREEN TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY? WELL, IT’S BECAUSE OF HOUSE BILL 557. THE BILL RECOGNIZES THE WAYS THE 1960 SITCOM CELEBRATED NORTH CAROLINA FOR A NATIONAL AUDIENCE, AND GRIFFITH’S LOVE FOR HIS HOMETOWN OF MOUNT AIRY. THE PAGE AND A HALF LONG BILL ALSO INCLUDES PLENTY OF REFERENCES TO THE SHOW THAT FANS LIKE RICK GRIMM APPRECIATE. I SHOT TO THE STARS, I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, THIS SHOULD BE BECAUSE THIS IS PART OF AMERICAN HISTORY AND THE SHOW HAS JUST BEEN AIRED FOR YEARS AND YEARS, FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION. THE BILL PASSED THROUGH THE STATE HOUSE LAST WEEK AND IS NOW OFF TO THE SENATE FOR A VOT
Murder of Chatham County couple remains unsolved 20 years later
Updated: 3:59 PM EDT Apr 21, 2025
It has been 20 years since the murders of a Chatham County couple, and deputies are still seeking justice.Karen and Rick Brown were found shot to death inside their home on Little Indian Creek Road on April 23, 2005. Karen Brown’s sister discovered the bodies after the couple did not show up for a family gathering.The medical examiner estimated the murder to have occurred around April 19. Officials said the evidence at the scene suggested a violent and chaotic ordeal. The Browns’ home had been ransacked, drawers pulled out, and a safe was found in the yard.Officials said all shell casings were recovered from the front porch, but the Browns’ bodies had been dragged inside the home. Investigators also noted signs of attempted arson.“This case remains open, and we are determined to find the truth,” said Investigator Shelby McGrath. “We know that someone out there still has information that could bring this family closure.”Subscribe to WXII’s YouTube channel hereWatch: NOWCAST streaming newscastsKeep up with the latest news and weather by downloading the WXII appNAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Watch NOWCAST TV | Local News | National | News We Love |
It has been 20 years since the murders of a Chatham County couple, and deputies are still seeking justice.
Karen and Rick Brown were found shot to death inside their home on Little Indian Creek Road on April 23, 2005. Karen Brown’s sister discovered the bodies after the couple did not show up for a family gathering.
The medical examiner estimated the murder to have occurred around April 19.
Officials said the evidence at the scene suggested a violent and chaotic ordeal. The Browns’ home had been ransacked, drawers pulled out, and a safe was found in the yard.
Officials said all shell casings were recovered from the front porch, but the Browns’ bodies had been dragged inside the home. Investigators also noted signs of attempted arson.
“This case remains open, and we are determined to find the truth,” said Investigator Shelby McGrath. “We know that someone out there still has information that could bring this family closure.”
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