A two-day manhunt for a Catawba County murder suspect came to an end Thursday afternoon in Transylvania County.

Just before 2 o’clock, Transylvania Sheriff’s deputies captured Joseph Wayne Barker in Rosmam.

Barker is accused of the shooting death of his 43-year-old wife Crystal Johnson Barker Tuesday night at their Vale residence.

A Catawba County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson reports their two teenage children were inside the house when the shooting occurred.

Barker reportedly led authorities on a manhunt following the incident, wrecking his vehicle early Wednesday morning near Rosman.

Multiple agencies assisted in the search – including Transylvania County authorities, the US Marshals Service, SBI, and the NC Highway Patrol.

During the month of April, a string of armed robberies has plagued Hickory businesses.

Hickory officers have responded to three separate incidents of armed robbery, believed to have been committed by the same suspect.

In each instance, the suspect enters the business, produces a handgun, demands money, and flees on foot after obtaining the money.

Businesses targeted include the Cubbard Express on 2^nd Street Northeast on April 2^nd, Speedway on North Center Street April 11^th, and Walgreens on North Center Street April 18^th.

The suspect in all three robberies is described as being a tall slender black male wearing a dark hoodie.

Hickory Police is offering a reward for information leading to the arrest of a suspect.

Anyone having information is encouraged to call Hickory Police at 328-5551.

A Marion man was airlifted following a motorcycle accident on Interstate-40 in Burke County Wednesday afternoon.

55-year-old Robert Alan Wells told Highway Patrol officials he got on the interstate headed west at Exit 94, but doesn’t remember what caused the mishap.

Reports say Wells was ejected from his bike more than 53 feet, landing in the eastbound lane.

He was initially taken to Carolinas Med Center Morganton, but later airlifted to Mission Hospital in Asheville.

Reportedly, no other vehicles were involved in the crash.

Burke EMS, West End Fire and Rescue, Burke REACT, and Nebo Fire assisted the state highway patrol on scene.

A McDowell County pair is arrested on the scene of an attempted truck theft.

32-year-old Kayla Michelle Crowder of Marion and 41-year-old James William Effler of Old Fort are each charged with two counts of injury to personal property and one count of larceny of a motor vehicle.

McDowell deputies responded to Old Glenwood Road March 26^th in reference to a disturbance.

They located Crowder and Effler on the scene of Richard Shoupe’s property.

Shoupe and other witnesses told officers the couple had been caught trying to steal Shoupe’s Ford truck.

Officers discovered the two had caused damage to the truck and to another piece of equipment.