Two more defendants charged in connection with a double homicide in March made their first appearances, Tuesday, in Catawba County District Court. William Crawdad Powell,Jr. and Reand Pablo-Antonio Rivera, both of Fayetteville, are each charged with 2 counts of murder for the March 12th deaths of 34-year-old Mark Anthony Wilson and 39-year-old Deidra LaCarol Ramseur at the couple's home on Rest Home Road in Conover. Both men appeared before District Court Judge Robert A. Mullinax and were given August 15th as a probable cause hearing date. They are being held without bond and will be appointed counsel by the Capital Defender's Office.

McDowell County Sheriff's deputies are seeking two 17-year-olds, who reportedly went missing early Tuesday morning. Joshua Stephen Ellis and Jackson Lawlor were last seen just after midnight at SUWS of the Carolinas, the therapeutic wilderness boarding school on Graphite Road. Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff's Office at 652-2235 or the 911 Communications Center at 652-4000. The Sheriff's Office also needs the public's help in determining who fatally wounded a horse in Old Fort last week. The shooting occurred between 10am and noon, July 19th, at the Hughes residence on Catawba River Road. Multiple rewards are being offered for information leading to the arrest of the responsible individual. Anyone with information should call Lt.Andy Manis with the Sheriff's Office at 652-2237 or CRIMESTOPPERS at 652-7463.