Prosecutor: Slain Knightdale woman had 50 stab wounds

A Knightdale woman found dead in her apartment earlier this month had been stabbed 50 times, a prosecutor said Thursday in a court appearance of her brother, who is a suspect in the case.

Posted 3:04 p.m. Oct 24, 2013 — Updated 12:00 a.m. Oct 25, 2013

KNIGHTDALE, N.C. — A Knightdale man suspected in the death of his younger sister had a cut on his hand and a knife in the car when state troopers found him injured and confused on a Virginia roadside two weeks ago, a Wake County prosecutor said Thursday.

Assistant District Attorney Howard Cummings told a judge that John Wesley Winters Jr., 70, admitted to a doctor at a Prince George County hospital that "he had an altercation with his sister and stabbed her."

Cummings said Seanne Winters Barnette, 55, had 50 stab wounds when Knightdale police found her dead at the Alta Legacy Oaks apartments she shared with her brother.

Although he is a suspect, Winters has not been charged with Barnette's death.

Thursday's court appearance was for a charge of vehicle larceny, which Winters faces after Virginia authorities found him Oct. 10 with Barnette's PT Cruiser.

The details of Barnette's death were revealed when District Judge Keith Gregory asked Cummings about Winters $1.5 million bond was so high.

Cumming said the evidence he referenced could lead to further charges.

Authorities haven't said how long Barnette might have been dead before she was found Oct. 12, but a search warrant for her home and car indicate neighbors hadn't seen her for about a week.

Police conducting a well-being check arrived to find flies going in and out of the apartment through an open window. When they went inside, they found Barnette covered in blood with a U.S. flag draped over her body.

Family friends said Winters had moved in with his sister several weeks prior to Barnette's death after she saw him being on WRAL News being interviewed at a downtown Raleigh soup kitchen.

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