Bryan Carl Peterson did not speak to reporters after he was charged with two counts of felony hit-and-run in the weekend deaths of Nancy Carolina Garner Wood, 39, and her son,Robbie Ray Wood, 3, both of Zebulon. Peterson was released into his parents' custody.
John Fanney, Peterson's attorney, said his client did make a statement to investigators, but he would not disclose what the statement was.
"I'm not authorized by the family or Bryan to make any statement at this time," Fanney said. "I can tell you that the entire family and Bryan are extremely upset about the events."
Peterson's next court date will be Aug. 26, but officials said a grand jury may hear evidence in the case sooner.
Acting Tuesday afternoon on an anonymous tip, authorities took Peterson and another Middlesex teenager in forquestioning at the Johnston County Courthouse in Smithfield about6:30 p.m., said Sgt. Everett Clendenin of the state Highway Patrol.
The other teenager was not identified or charged. Authorities said five people, including Peterson, were inside the vehicle at the time of the accident, thepatrol reported. Authorities said the other people will not be charged in the accident.
The fatal crash occurred at 2:40 a.m. on N.C. 39, about fourmiles from Zebulon. Wood and her son were struck by an oncomingvehicle as they walked home along the unlit, rural roadway, thepatrol reported.
The vehicle left the scene, leaving behind fragments of theheadlights, turn lights and parking lights - clues that allowedinvestigators to narrow the suspect vehicle to a Chrysler product.
State Highway Patrol investigators discovered the minivan offSwinson Farm Road in Knightdale. The blue-green 1995 Dodge matchedfragments that were found on the roadway, authorities said. Theminivan is being analyzed at the State Bureau of Investigation Labin Raleigh, authorities said.
"To the person who turned this person in, whoever they are, thank you. May God bless you."
Wood had just left her daughter's home and was walking with hertoddler son to her own residence a short distance away. Wood andthe child were about 100 yards from her daughter's home when theincident occurred. Investigators said both victims were walkingnear the right side of the road or near the center line.
Peterson was taken to the Johnston County Magistrate's Officelate Tuesday evening and released on an unsecured bond, a jail spokesman said.
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