Couple charged with murder after body found in car

Wythe County sheriff's deputies stopped Jerry Wayne Damron, 42, of Taylorsville, along Interstate 77 under suspicion of drunken under the influence, according to the Taylorsville Police Department. Deputies arrested Damron and then searched his van.

Inside the cargo area, they found the body of a woman who appeared to have been shot to death, police said.

Deputies arrested Jerry Damron and his passenger, Lisa Church Damron, 31, of Taylorsville. They contacted the Alexander County Sheriff's Office and Taylorsville Police Department.

Investigators determined that the woman, whose identity hasn't been released, was shot to death at the Damrons' house at 373 6th St. SW. Taylorsville police charged both of them with first-degree murder Friday.

The Hickory Record and The McDowell New reports that Jerry Damron was charged with driving under the influence in a wreck that killed his 9-year-old son in October 2008. Five other children belonging to the couple were in the car, and four were left in critical condition. The children ranged in age from 1 to 9 years old.