NC Wanted: Chatham County couple's killer yet to be located

In April of 2005, Rhonda Barham had not heard from her sister – Karen Brown – in a long period of time. Barham said her husband drove her to her sister’s home to find out why.

“I just had this terrible feeling that she hadn’t called me,” said Barham. “My husband stopped me and asked me not to go any further, and he continued walking up.

“As he looked in the door, he immediately saw their bodies.”

Rick and Karen Brown had been shot to death. Inside the home, police found a sophisticated marijuana growing operation and an empty safe lying open on the floor.

Investigators said they believe the killer was waiting for them when they got home.

“A lot of people in the community don’t want to be involved with the so-called drug aspect,” said Chatham County detective Latisha Allen. “But to me, they were two people that didn’t deserve to be killed the way that they were.”

Barham said her sister and her husband had their faults, but they were kind people who didn't deserve their fate.

“There are people out there that maybe thought they deserved it,” Barham said. “As terrible as that sounds. That’s what was so hurtful, because that wasn’t what she was about. That wasn’t the person she was.

“The way I want them remembered is good, kind, gentle people that would not have hurt anyone. God knows they did not deserve this; no one does.”

Anyone with information regarding the murder of Rick and Karen Brown in Chatham County is asked to call the NC Wanted hotline at 1-866-439-2683.