Monday, May 31, 2010

Davidson County, NC: Reidsville man faces murder charge after woman's death

BY STEVE HUFFMAN
The Dispatch

Published: Sunday, May 30, 2010 at 7:05 p.m.
A Reidsville man has been charged with killing his common-law wife Sunday morning near Old U.S. Highway 52 in northern Davidson County.

Beresford Allen Campbell, 52, of 1325 Linville Drive, has been charged with murder. Davidson County Sheriff David Grice said the 48-year-old woman he killed was his common-law wife. Grice said the name of the woman, who is also from Reidsville, is not being released pending notification of next of kin.

Grice said the two apparently have no ties to Davidson County and were just passing through when the killing occurred. The site of the murder is near the Forsyth County line, about a mile north of Gumtree Road.

Grice said a call for help was received at 10:42 a.m. Sunday. When officers arrived they found the woman lying beside a car bleeding from numerous wounds. Grice described the injuries as “edge-weapon wounds.”

The woman was transported to Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem where she was pronounced dead. Grice said an autopsy will be performed at the hospital.

An off-duty Kernersville police officer was already at the scene along with about 10 others helping the victim when deputies arrived. Grice said the off-duty officer also detained Campbell until other deputies arrived.

Grice said Campbell reportedly ingested a bottle of prescription medicine at the scene and was transported to Lexington Memorial Hospital where he was treated before being released about 3:30 p.m.

A 6-year-old was in the vehicle when the incident occurred, Grice said. He said the child was not hurt and was taken to the Davidson County Department of Social Services to meet with his grandfather.

Old U.S. Highway 52 was blocked for almost three hours while the death was investigated.

Grice said this is the fourth murder in Davidson County this year.

Steve Huffman can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 217, or steve.huffman@the-dispatch.com.

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