Monday, January 17, 2011

Hendersonville, NC: Police issue warrants for kidnapping in homicide investigation

By John Harbin
Times-News Staff Writer

Published: Thursday, January 13, 2011 at 12:52 p.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, January 13, 2011 at 12:52 p.m.
The Hendersonville Police Department have issued a warrant for second-degree kidnapping against a man in connection with a homicide investigation, Capt. David Adams said Thursday afternoon.

Adams said a warrant for second-degree kidnapping has been issued for Eric Cornell Wilson, 40, who is the father of one of Victoria Jon-Baptiste's children. Adams confirmed that this warrant is in direct connection with the police department's homicide investigation.

“Mr. Wilson was last seen in Asheville and we are being assisted by the Asheville Police Department, the State Bureau of Investigation and the Henderson County Sheriff's Office to locate Mr. Wilson,” he said.

In addition to the kidnapping warrant Wilson also has an outstanding warrant for violating a domestic violence protective order regarding Jon-Baptiste. Adams said the police department is waiting on final autopsy results before issuing any other warrants against Wilson.

Court records show a history of domestic violence between Jon-Baptiste and Wilson.

Jon-Baptiste, 27, was found dead in at 12:40 p.m. at her home at 1119 Park St., according to Hendersonville Police Chief Herbert Blake, who added her death was “an apparent homicide.”

Her body has been sent to Wake Forest Medical Center in Winston-Salem for an autopsy.

Detective Bobby Trotter said there was no sign of forced entry into Jon-Baptiste's home. She also said the victim's three children, ages 1 to 4, were found in her home when police arrived.

Police had responded to the home on Park Street in the past for domestic violence calls, Trotter added.

A neighbor, who would not give their name, said Park Street is a quiet neighborhood and that Jon-Baptiste was a nice woman who told them she was lonely and had just moved to Hendersonville not to long ago. The neighbor said they were aware of the domestic violence and said they were saddened to hear about Jon-Baptisite's death.

The department interviewed several people Wednesday night and today in regard to the homicide, Trotter added, but have not named a suspect or person of interest.

Court records show that the father of one of Jon-Baptiste's children had taken a domestic violence protective order out against her in November, but was dismissed because the plaintiff, Wilson, gave false information, records show. It was also dismissed because neither Jon-Baptiste or Wilson showed up for the court date.

Jon-Baptiste later took out a domestic violence protective order against Wilson that same month. Her order was granted and remained in effect until Nov. 22 of this year, according to court records.

Jon-Baptiste's order said she and Wilson were unmarried, but shared a child together. That child was born on Nov. 12, 2008.

The order also says Jon-Baptiste claimed Wilson hit her in the face in retaliation for not agreeing to have sex with him.

Wilson was ordered to not assault or threaten Jon-Baptiste and to stay away from her home, work or school.

Wilson was also ordered to make child support payments and was prohibited from possessing or purchasing a firearm.

The order was signed by Judge Peter Knight on Nov. 23, 2010.

In addition to the domestic violence protective order, their 2-year-old child ordered to be placed in the Jon-Baptiste's custody and Wilson was only allowed three hours a week of supervised visitation.

Court records stated that the 2-year-old was in the home at the time of the November 2010 assault.

Wilson address was listed as the Park Street address and his occupation was listed as Labor Force in Asheville.

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