Sampson County Officials Arrest Third Suspect In Connection With Beaten, Burned Bodies

Authorities arrested Stephen Antonio Bell in connection with the crime Friday afternoon. Two other suspects, Antavio Derrell Best and Rafty Harold Brown, were taken into custody earlier in the day.

Authorities reportedly believe the victims and the suspects knew each other. They believe the suspects went to the house to rob the victims of drugs and money and decided to kill the victims to cover up the crime.

According to autopsy results, Carrie Jones, Jimmy Turner and Randolph Carr were beaten to death and then burned in a vacant lot on North McCullen Road in Keener. Officials say each victim suffered severe head trauma.

Brown and Best have been denied bond. Authorities in Sampson County say this has been the first triple murder in the county since 1956.