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Stepdaughter arrested in slaying of Knightdale minister

Editor's note: All charges against Carletta Patrice Alston were dismissed by the Wake County District Attorney's Office.

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KNIGHTDALE, N.C.Editor's note: All charges against Carletta Patrice Alston were dismissed by the Wake County District Attorney's Office.

The stepdaughter of a slain Knightdale minister was arrested Wednesday in his June 4 shooting death, and more arrests are expected in the case, according to the Wake County Sheriff's Office.

Carletta Patrice Alston, 24, was charged with first-degree murder in the slaying of Michael Donnell Smith, 48, whom deputies found lying in his driveway at 1808 Lucas Road.

Deputies were responding to 911 calls from Smith's wife, Phyllis, reporting that she heard gunshots as Smith left for work as a truck driver around 3:30 a.m. In the 911 call, Phyllis Smith said that Alston was calling her stepfather's cell phone, trying to get in touch with him.

Alston lived at Smith's home, along with her mother, who had been married to Smith for seven years, authorities said.

Alston was being held without bond at the Wake County Jail. She was expected to appear in court at 2 p.m. Thursday.

Smith, 48, was an associate minister at Truth and Delivery International Ministry Church in Knightdale, where he preached, taught Bible study, Sunday school and was active in community outreach.

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