Residents in six counties, including McDowell and Rutherford, swindled out of millions of dollars by a husband and wife home builder team.

50-year-old Del Jon Bristol Junior and 46-year-old Serena Stamm Bristol of Marion have each been charged with one count of embezzlement and five counts of exploiting the elderly.

The couple owns World Outdoor Log Homes which they operated out of their residence on Pepperwood Drive.

A news release states reports have been pouring in from western NC victims that had contracted with the Bristols to build homes for them.

The couple reportedly took hundreds of thousands of dollars at a time from most of the victims – either from them personally or from their construction loans – for down payments, purchasing of materials and paying subcontractors, but the money wasn’t used for that and remains unaccounted for.

At least 20 victims report being scammed for well over 2-million dollars.

Reports with the McDowell Sheriff’s Office say the Bristols left town abruptly earlier this month.

Investigators tracked them to a condo on Lake Norman last week where they were taken into custody.

They are now in the McDowell County jail under 700-thousand dollar bonds each.

Additional charges are forthcoming.

The investigation continues.

Attorney General Josh Stein announced Wednesday that he does not object to HCA's acquisition of Mission Health System's assets.

According to a news release from NCDOJ, HCA has strengthened its commitments to provide healthcare services, the Dogwood Health Trust has agreed to make its board more representative of the communities it will serve, and the parties have agreed to enforcement measures that will ensure compliance with this agreement.

A agreement was reached last year for Nashville-based HCA Healthcare to acquire Mission Health for about $1.5 billion. Mission operates six hospitals in WNC including Marion and Spruce Pine.

A second person has been charged in connection with the theft of lawn equipment from a Lincoln County business earlier this month.

28-year-old Christopher Brian Bell of Dallas NC is now charged with two felony counts of breaking and entering, larceny, conspiracy, and possession of stolen goods.

More than 9-thousand dollars worth of landscaping equipment was reportedly taken from a lawn care business on Prince Drive while the owner was away on vacation.

Most of the stolen property has been recovered.

A former employee at the business, 27-year-old Dustin Lee Mullinax of High Shoals was arrested on January 6^th on the same charges and jailed under a 50-thousand dollar bond.

Deputies are still attempting to locate Bell.

The investigation continues.

An upcoming holiday reminder – Morganton City Hall is closed Monday January 21^st in observance of Martin Luther King Junior Day.

The Collett Street Recreation Center and Mountain View Community Center are also closed, but the Aquatic Center is open and operating on a normal schedule.

Morganton City garbage will not be collected Monday, and will operate on a one-day delay for the remainder of the week.