Raleigh, N.C. — One of the two men accused of killing UNC Student Body President Eve Carson waived his probable cause hearing in connection with a probation violation that ultimately prompted state correction officials to order an internal investigation into the matter.
Six deputies flanked Demario James Atwater, 21, of Durham, as he entered a Wake County courtroom Monday. The violation stems from a February 2005 felony breaking-and-entering conviction.
Superior Court Judge Carl Fox continued the case until May 1 and assigned Raleigh attorney Rudy Renfer, who sometimes handles cases for the public defender's officer, to represent Atwater.
Atwater had been in court two days before Carson's March 5 shooting death, but the hearing was postponed following a paperwork mix-up.
It was one of several problems that contributed to Atwater being overlooked by the state's probation system.
"This guy should have been handled by us," said Robert L. Guy, director of the Department of Correction's Division of Community Corrections.
Atwater's former probation officer has been placed on desk duty and a new office has been assigned to the case. Guy has also ordered an internal investigation into how the case was handled.
Results from that probe could be available sometime this week.
In February 2005, a judge sentenced Atwater to three years' probation, including nine months of intensive probation that required him to be in contact with a probation officer five times a week, at least once in person.
He pleaded guilty to felony possession of a firearm in Granville County in June 2007, but arrest warrants weren't issued for him in Wake County until November 2007. His probation officer arrested him on Feb. 20, 2008, and he was released on a $10,000 secured bond.
He was in court March 3, but was allowed to leave because his court file had been sent to the wrong courtroom.
Wake County District Attorney Colon Willoughby has said the investigation is necessary, although it is impossible to say whether earlier intervention could have prevented Carson's death or any of Atwater's other alleged acts.
"I don't know if it would have prevented his criminal activity or not, but someone might have detected it sooner," Willoughby said.
UNC Murder Suspect in Court on Probation Violation
- Reporters: Kelcey Carlson, Adam Owens
- Photographer: Jamie Munden
- Web Editor: Anne Johnson
Copyright 2008 by WRAL.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
37 Comments
-
- Hanna speeds up, heads for Carolinas
Updated 2 minutes ago |
- Triangle awaits rain, strong winds from Hanna
Updated 7 minutes ago |
- Ex-teacher who faces sex charges is arrested again
Updated Sep. 4 10:11 p.m. |
- Attorney general warns of scams, price gouging
Updated Sep. 4 10:03 p.m. |
- No public events for Edwards until after election
Updated Sep. 4 6:42 p.m.
- Hanna speeds up, heads for Carolinas
- Most Viewed Slideshows
- Images of Hanna
Updated at 12:51 a.m. - Images of Sarah Palin & her family
Sep. 4, 2008 - Pet Photos | September 1 - September 7, 2008
Updated Sep. 4 4:03 p.m.
- Images of Hanna
Ask Anything
-
10 questions with Crime Reporter Amanda LambWRAL Crime Reporter Amanda Lamb answers your questions about crime scenes, murder cases and much more.
-
10 questions with Wake school board memberEleanor Goettee answers your questions about teacher pay, year-round schools ...
-
10 questions with Cary EMS Chief Steve CohenSteve Cohen answers your questions about saving lives and what to do in emergency situations.
hot topics
(1 votes) hanna to blow through triangle saturday
(1 votes) drilling for oil a hot topic at gop
Multimedia
-
Tracking HannaMeteorologists have been tracking Hanna, which has been a tropical storm and a hurricane.
-
Gustav: The path of destructionView Hurricane Gustav's path of destruction.
-
Gustav-Katrina ComparisonSee a timeline comparing the two hurricanes.
-
N.C. Drought Maps Time Lapse AnimationView a time lapse animation of drought conditions since April of 2007.
-
Raleigh Convention Center InteractiveThe Grand Opening of the new Raleigh Convention Center is Sept. 5 and 6.



STORIES
VIDEOS
SLIDESHOWS




Welcome to GOLO, where WRAL.com visitors can comment on stories and create profile pages, blogs and photo galleries.
You must be a registered WRAL.com user to use these tools. Click here to register or log in.