April 8, 2023
BERTIE COUNTY, NC—A Georgia man has been charged with the murder of an Asian elderly woman and the stabbing of her caregiver back in February.
Lan Rawls, 80, was stabbed and killed on the night of February 20 at her home on Commerce Street in Aulander. The elderly woman’s caregiver, 62-year-old Rochelle Harrell was critically wounded during the attack as well, according to WITN.
Rawls had just celebrated her 80th birthday a few days earlier.
Harrell survived the attack and was airlifted to ECU Health Medical Center in Greenville.
The suspect, Robert Reid, is charged with first-degree murder, first-degree forcible rape, attempted first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree kidnapping as well as other felony charges, reports WITN.
Authorities soon conducted an extensive investigation and later identified the African-American suspect. He was arrested in Georgia and is awaiting extradition.
“He wasn’t living here at the time of the murder and the assault, but he has family living here in the local area,” stated Bertie Sheriff Tyrone Ruffin. “It’s to our understanding that he was wanted for some severe-level crimes in Georgia and fled into South Carolina where he was arrested.”
Police are still investigating the motive behind the murder/assault.
Feature Screenshots via WITN