Jerry Boyce, (front left) flanked by police officers, leads Davey Alexander, (back center) the suspect in the murder of Elaine Jones, on Wednesday, June 16, 2010.
Murder suspect back in EC
The suspect in the April 15 slaying of a 91-year-old retired schoolteacher was extradited from Maryland to Elizabeth City.
Dewey Lewis Alexander appeared before a Pasquotank County magistrate Wednesday evening prior to being taken to Albemarle District Jail. Alexander, 62, a former North Carolina prison inmate, is accused of first-degree murder in the death of Elaine Jones.
Alexander was wearing a white T-shirt and green pants as Elizabeth City police led him from the police station across Colonial Avenue to the magistrate’s office in rainy weather.
He declined to answer The Daily Advance’s question about whether he murdered Jones.
Police Detective Jerry Boyce, the lead investigator in the case, told the newspaper his department was glad to get Alexander back to Elizabeth City.
“I think this eases a lot of people’s minds. The community had some concerns,” Boyce said.
Although Boyce said there is a long way to go in the legal process, “Everybody did a good job on this case.”
Alexander was taken to the magistrate’s office to have the charges against him explained.
Boyce said Alexander will appear in court, but did not know when.
Jones died of multiple blunt force trauma injuries at her home at 701 Parkview Drive adjacent to the Elizabeth City State University campus.
Her 93-year-old sister was at the residence with her at the time of the slaying and was unharmed, but she cannot help with the investigation because she suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, police have said.
Alexander and Elaine Jones had once attended the same church and Alexander had once lived along adjoining Southern Avenue.
Police Chief Charles Crudup at a May 11 news conference announced Alexander was wanted on charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping, first-degree burglary and felony larceny.
Additionally, District Attorney Frank Parrish said he would probably seek the death penalty.
Federal marshals on June 3 apprehended Alexander at a private residence in Baltimore.
An N.C. Department of Correction unit brought Alexander back to Elizabeth City, Boyce said.
Police have said Alexander has a lengthy criminal record from Philadelphia to North Carolina.
State correction records show his most recent incarceration was from November 2008 to August of last year for driving while impaired and for having driven while his license was revoked.
Alexander had previously served probation for larceny and driving while impaired and has previously served time for first-degree burglary.
Jones began working for Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools in 1954 and retired from Elizabeth City High School in 1980.
She taught home economics.
http://www.dailyadvance.com/news/murder-suspect-back-ec-24920
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