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Posted: July 23, 2012

State's oldest inmate dies at age 90

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Raleigh, N.C. — The state's oldest inmate is dead.

Authorities said Frank Wetzel died over the weekend at Raleigh's Central Prison. He was 90.

Wetzel was convicted in 1958 of killing two State Highway Patrol troopers – W.L. Reece and James Brown – a year earlier.

Reece stopped Wetzel in Richmond County for driving a stolen car and was shot before he drew his gun. Brown stopped Wetzel in Lee County a short time later.

A manhunt that may have been the largest in North Carolina history involved 500 officers. The state's borders were sealed, but still Wetzel made it to California before being arrested by the FBI.

Wetzel, who was serving two life sentences, had been denied parole several times since becoming eligible for release in 1977. He maintained he was innocent, pointing to the timing of the murders as proof.

Reece was fatally shot at 8 p.m. Brown was shot 47 miles away between 15 and 20 minutes later.

Web Editor: Angie Basiouny

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35 Comments

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The truly sad thing is that one year after his brother was executed in Mississippi, Frank's brother was exonerated. So their Mother lost two sons to an erroneous conviction by the state of Mississippi. Poor woman. They were theives, but I am sure she still loved them.

donnawakeforest
July 24, 2012 5:29 p.m.

RIP Mr. Wetzel

When my folks, sister and I lived in Roanoke Rapids ...my sister and I got to know Frank's stepdaughter Karen and this was back in the late 1980s/early 1990s. Karen then was trying fervently to get her stepfather released. Is sad that he never got his parole.

Skywatch_NC
July 24, 2012 11:42 a.m.

Well Livesay knows what he is talking about my hubby worked there also. Frank married a realestate lady while in prision who was a millionaire. Sad she passed away before he did. He also had jet black hair and was handsome Women sent him money all the time. Wonder who gets that money now.

maybelle
July 24, 2012 10:30 a.m.

@jjsmith1973, I bet if Frank Wetzel were a Trooper convicted of murdering people 47 miles apart you'd be singing a different tune wouldn't you? Your problem, other than believing what you think, is that you are under the misguided perception that only the evil police from Planet X are the only bad guys on the friendly slice of heaven. If you are so secure in your safety from everyone who isn't a cop why don't you go ahead and post your real name, address, and a sign in your front yard that reads "gun free home and new tv inside". Let's see how nice humanity is then and who you call crying for help.

thepeopleschamp
July 23, 2012 7:57 p.m.

@ ed livesay, One how do you know how old I am. I can assure you that my screen name doesn't reflect my name or my year of birth. Two you just had someone totally contradict what you said. So sir, I know more about what evil exist then you might think. Also, sir I know there are just as many crooked cops which there are innocent people in jail. Which is one too many. You sir, get a clue. You are using a common prison trick that almost every prisoner did as a reson he was evil? Really? I bet at one time before they couldn't he smoked too. Did that also make him evil?? Give me a break.

jjsmith1973
July 23, 2012 7:08 p.m.

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