Son charged in Benson woman's slaying

Benson, N.C. — Johnston County deputies arrested the son of a Benson woman Wednesday evening and charged him with her slaying, Sheriff Steve Bizzell said.

Deputies found Annie Bynum, 68, dead in her house in the 5800 block of Meadowbrook Road Wednesday morning after she had failed to show up for her Tuesday overnight shift at the Day by Day Treatment Canter in Selma.

Authorities have not said how she died. Her body has been sent to the State Medical Examiner's Office in Chapel Hill for an autopsy.

Bynum's niece, Carolyn Harding, said authorities said her aunt was struck with a blunt object and was found in a bedroom doorway inside her home.

Deputies charged her son, Tony Edward Bynum, with first-degree murder in her death. He was ordered Thursday to be held without bond in the Johnston County Jail.

Annie Bynum was scheduled to work 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., and it was unlike her to not show up, family members said.

The center called relatives, and, on Wednesday morning, her sister called the sheriff's office.

Investigators went to Annie Bynum's house and found the side door open. They then determined that someone had forced his or her way into the house. Deputies went inside and found her body.

Tony Bynum, 42, told deputies he was out all night and was not at the house, family members said. Relatives said he had problems with alcohol and drugs.

His former fiancee, Teresa Carter, said he moved into his mother's house in June, after she and he ended their engagement. Tony Bynum also has four children, ages 12, 10, 9 and 8, with his former wife.

Carter said Tony Bynum lost his job last weekend.

Both she and Shannah Ramos, Tony Bynum's ex-wife, said they couldn't believe he would harm his mother.

Harding described her aunt as a "church- and family-oriented" woman. She said she can't understand why anyone would want to hurt her aunt.

"We don't know what has happened and we are trying to not let our minds play with us,” she said.

"All we can say is, 'The Lord is in control.' I do not understand it. I would be at a loss to try to explain it," said James Coleman, church elder at Smithfield First Seventh Day Adventist Church.

Coleman said Annie Bynum was soon to become the first female elder at their church.

54 Comments

WRAL.com welcomes your comments on this story. All comments are moderated prior to publication based on our posting guidelines. Please review them prior to posting and if your message is not approved.

VIEW ALL 54 COMMENTS

This story is closed for comments. Comments on WRAL.com news stories are accepted and moderated between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Latest Comments

Let's see, we'll be picking up the tab for the trial, many years in prison and probably taking care of his kids too. What a way for a God fearing, hardworking woman to die, at the hands of her own son.

celong
October 9, 2008 4:54 p.m.

RM1966 said: "what they really need to bring back is the HANGING POST outside the court house and when you are convicted to murder take you out of the court room and walk you straight to the hanging post and let the public watch you hang."

AND I AGREE! Set an example and some of this mess will stop!

Weetie
October 9, 2008 3:01 p.m.

very sad.

dayum_yankee_99
October 9, 2008 1:41 p.m.

Unemployed, drugs, and alcohol addictions!! This man took his anger out on the woman that stood by him and took him in and tried to help him. How sick could someone be to harm their own Mother? This man is pitiful and a disgrace to the human race. So sorry for the family and mostly sorry for this amazing woman of 68 years old still working and striving for the future only to die at the hands of her own flesh and blood.

pwilliamson53
October 9, 2008 1:37 p.m.

twc: "The death penalty in this case would simply end this man's misery."

twc, I'm not directing this comment specifically at you. I'm using your quote as an example. Many people say they would rather someone suffer in prison than given the easy way out... death. But I suggest giving someone the Death Penalty is the best of both worlds. It takes 10 to 20 years to go from Conviction to carrying out the Death Sentence. A murderer has to sit in prison, on Death Row, suffering just like you suggest. Then he is eventually put to death. Its the best of both worlds. You get the suffering you want. And I get the death I want. The best of both worlds. Maybe a quick Death Sentence isn't the best thing afterall. But a Death Sentence is the right thing.