Avery Murder

A live-in caregiver has been charged with the murder of an Avery County woman.

53-year-old Elizabeth Katherine Carserino, also known as Elizabeth Freeman, was taken into custody by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office Saturday on outstanding warrants from Avery County on charges of identity theft, larceny of a motor vehicle, and financial card theft.

She was then turned over to Avery County authorities for an additional charge of murder in the death of 70-year-old Lynn Gay Keene.

Family members reported Keene missing on July 30^th, after having not seen her since June 14^th.

A search of her home led investigators to human remains found entombed in concrete in the basement of the residence.

An autopsy revealed the remains were that of Keene and that she did not die of natural causes.

Deputies then identified Freeman as a suspect.

She had been hired by Keene’s family as a live-in caregiver.

As investigators searched for Freeman, they discovered surveillance at a Marion store showing her driving Keene’s car and using one of her bank cards.

Reports say lawmen suspect someone else may have been involved in the murder.

Driver Kills Dog

An impaired driver hits and kills a dog in the yard of an Old Fort residence.

Reports say 54-year-old Wayne Gilbert Lassiter of Justice Road in Marion is charged with cruelty to animals in the June 1^st incident.

A resident reported he was walking with his dog outside his US 70 West residence when the car driven by Lassiter traveled through his yard and struck and killed the dog.

According to reports, officers discovered Lassiter was driving while impaired.

Also, McDowell officers discovered a sleeping man inside a stolen vehicle parked at a Dollar General.

Deputies had been responding to a reported domestic dispute early last Thursday on US 221 North.

While searching for suspects, they found 25-year-old Cory Douglas Wilde sleeping in the back of a Ford Taurus parked at the business.

Officers learned the vehicle had been stolen from Knoxville.

Wilde was then charged with possession of a stolen motor vehicle.

Boone SOE

The town of Boone will soon require masks indoors after declaring a State of Emergency due to rising COVID-19 cases.

The requirement goes into effect today at 5 pm and shall remain in effect until further notice.

The declaration calls for customers, employees, and those inside a public establishment to wear a face mask or covering, while also observing social distancing.

The penalty for violating the mask requirement carries a class 2 misdemeanor.

Lincoln Drug Charges

A traffic stop in Lincoln County leads to the arrest of a Gastonia man on illegal drug charges.

Reports say 27-year-old Marcos Joel Gamboa was pulled over on July 29^th by Lincoln narcotics investigators and patrol officers.

Authorities located six ounces of heroin with an estimated street value of 21-thousand-500 dollars.

Gamboa was arrested and taken before the magistrate on charges of trafficking heroin by possession, trafficking heroin by transport, and trafficking heroin by manufacturing.

He was placed in custody under a 210-thousand dollar secured bond.