Twin Oaks man is charged with murder after body found in home

By COBY LaRUE
Staff

The Alleghany County Sheriff's Department charged a Twin Oaks man with first-degree murder after a shooting took place in his home early last Friday morning.

According to a release from the department, Dewey Franklin Edwards, 62, is charged with the shooting death of 55-year-old Walter Edward "Ed" Whitaker Jr.

Whitaker, who lived in the Cherry Lane community, was pronounced dead on the scene by paramedics with Alleghany EMS.

According to information provided by the department, a disagreement between the men, both of whom had been drinking alcoholic beverages, may have led to the shooting.

Alleghany County dispatch received a 911 call from a neighbor at 1:02 a.m. advising that there had been a shooting at Edwards' residence at 3667 U.S. 21, just north of Sparta. When deputies arrived at the scene, the body of Whitaker was found inside Edwards' home. According to a search warrant on file at the Alleghany County Courthouse, Det. Ricky Lyall arrived at the residence at 1:56 a.m. and saw the body of Whitaker lying on the living room floor at the front door of the residence. The search warrant also states that Edwards was also inside the residence with "a reddish colored substance, possibly blood, located on (his) shirt and hands."

In an interview on Monday evening, Sheriff Mike Caudill said that Edwards had an injury to the top portion of his head when he was arrested. However, he refused treatment by Alleghany EMS and was transported directly to the Alleghany County Law Enforcement Center. The blood on his hands and shirt most likely came from the wound on his head, investigators said.

Caudill stated that his deputies and four agents of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation are working on the investigation.

"This is one of those unfortunate situations that occur when alcohol becomes a factor in an argument," said Sheriff Mike Caudill. "This is an ongoing investigation and we're unable to comment further."

A release from the department stated that deputies and SBI officers have interviewed several witnesses and noted that the interviews are continuing. No one other than Edwards was at the home when deputies arrived. Whitaker was taken to Wake Forest University Medical Center (N.C. Baptist) for an autopsy, but Caudill said the report most likely will not be available until later next week.

According to the search warrant, Lyall noticed possible blood on the couch, kitchen floor and one possible round of ammunition inside the house. Edwards was then arrested by Lyall and taken to the Alleghany County Law Enforcement Center.

A gunshot residue test was performed on Edwards' hands and he also gave verbal consent to search his residence upon his arrest.

In executing the search warrant a number of weapons and some ammunition were seized.

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