Log in to WRAL.com with one click using your favorite social network:
OR
Log in using your WRAL.com account:



Wrong email/password combination.

Forgot password?

Register with WRAL.com using your favorite social network:
OR
Register for a WRAL.com account using our web form.

Login Options

4:18 p.m. • 2-22-12

Weather Forecast for Raleigh

  • Thu: Partly Cloudy.
    • Hi: 73° F
  • Fri: Rain.
    • Hi: 71° F
  • Sat: Partly Cloudy.
    • Hi: 55° F

Other Locations

> 7 Day Forecast

Doppler Image

Marketplace Links

Social Links

Main Menu

Guns, computers seized from home of former Nifong investigator


e-mail print friendly
Linwood Wilson
Linwood Wilson

Guns and cell phones were among the items seized in a search of a home and several vehicles belonging to the top investigator for former Durham County District Attorney Mike Nifong, according to search warrants released on Monday.

Linwood Wilson, 61, is accused of violating a June 8 protective order sought by his estranged wife in Kent County, Del. He is charged with stalking and two felony charges of obscenity, in addition to other harassment charges.

Wilson worked for Nifong from 2005 until Nifong resigned in 2007 over his improper handling of rape allegations against three Duke University lacrosse players that proved to be unsubstantial.In the July 15 search, authorities seized a booklet labeled "Barbara Wilson portfolio," 21 pictures of Barbara Wilson, three cell phones, a shotgun and shotgun shells, laptop desktop computers, a mini-disc player, a .38 Special handgun, rifle rounds, VHS tapes and a digital camera.

The items were seized from Linwood Wilson's home at 6910 Innsbruck Way in Bahama and from three vehicles – a 1996 Chrysler Sebring, 1999 Chrysler Town and County van and 2006 Chrysler 300.

In an affidavit filed with the court, Barbara Wilson said her husband was harassing her and her boss with obscene e-mails and text messages.

On several websites, including Craigslist and About Us, Barbara Wilson's profile was changed to include derogatory comments about her, the address where she lived with her parents and a home telephone number, she told police.

Barbara Wilson's boss told authorities on June 9 that Linwood Wilson had threatened to kill him in April. The man also told police that Linwood Wilson had been following him at lunch and dropping by his place of work.

On June 29, Barbara Wilson's boss reported to police that he received a threatening letter in the mail.

"Do you really think a small charge will stop me from getting what I want? You lock yourselves behind locked gates and doors and try to hide yourselves," the computer-generated letter read. "You forget that while you all may hide you leave other members of your family out in the open."

The letter was sent on June 26 – a day after Linwood Wilson was released on a $1,000 bond after a District Court judge lowered that bond at Wilson’s request.

Judge David Q. LaBarre said Linwood Wilson told him he was being arrested on a domestic violence charge but that he didn't know about the other charges when he set bond.

To avoid any appearance of favoritism toward Wilson, the Special Prosecutions Unit of the state Attorney General's Office assumed control of the case on June 30.

Guilford County District Judge Thomas Foster set Linwood Wilson's bond at $10,000 on July 1 and ordered him not to contact his wife, her family or her boss and not to leave North Carolina except to handle the criminal case in Delaware.

Delaware authorities had asked Durham County to arrest Wilson after, they said, he sent Barbara Wilson e-mails, graphic videos, photos and an instant message asking her to remember "to death do we part."

The Delaware protective order also prohibits Wilson from being in possession of a gun or other deadly weapon.

Superior Court Judge Ronald Stephens initially stayed that order but reinstated it.

RELATED TOPICS: Durham County, Guilford County, Durham, Duke University

e-mail print friendly

15 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 Comments VIEW ALL 15 COMMENTS

This story is closed for comments.

Latest Comments
The NRA supports Mrs. Wilson's right to keep and bear arms , so that she can defend herself. All the anti-gunners think taking the guns from legitimate owners through useless legislation will protect people like her. criminals and domestic violence offenders dont care about gun laws. I hope she's an avid firearms enthusiast , when seconds count , the cops are only MINUTES away.

So, the NRA and all of the pro-gun people are furious that the police took this man's legal guns and they're working hard to get them back to this legal gun owner, right? If not, why not?

Is anyone watching this guy to see that he abides by all of the orders that he has? Confiscating his computer will not do any good because he can go to the library and sign-on. This guy needs professional help before he goes to Delaware and kills someone.

Wow, just more evidence at how sick and dangerous all the individuals were who were against the 3 LAX players in that case! As I like to say...give them time, they will get what's coming to them...and well, we are seeing it...Nifong, Mangum, and now Linwood. GEEEEZ!!

Kind of news given the gravity of the charges but I am sure there are many cases out there like this. Why is this one getting press besides the old connection to Nifong and the Duke Lax case?

View Comments VIEW ALL 15 COMMENTS
Report It

Multimedia

Click Here