Local News
Stabbing Suspect a Former Teacher, Coach
A Raleigh man charged with stabbing his estranged girlfriend Tuesday is a former high school teacher and basketball coach.
Stabbing Suspect a Former Teacher, Coach
A Raleigh man charged with stabbing his estranged girlfriend Tuesday is a former high school teacher and basketball coach.
Michael Orlando Olliver, 47, of 115 Ramblewood Drive, was charged with attempted murder after Erica Shariss Jennings, 37, was stabbed repeatedly inside her townhouse near Cove Bridge Road. He is being held in the Wake County Jail on a $500,000 bond.
Olliver taught physical education at Southern Wayne High School and coached the basketball team from 2000 to 2004. He made headlines a few years ago as a father helping his son battle a rare medical condition.
WRAL profiled Olliver when a rare virus temporarily paralyzed his son from the waist down. Mikey Olliver was the star player on his father's basketball team.
The story followed the family as the teen walked again and his father helped him work his way back on the basketball court.
Marvin McCoy, who works for Wayne County Schools, said he was surprised to learn of the charges against Olliver.
"There is nothing negative or derogatory in his records that would raise a red flag to make us be concerned," McCoy said.
Court records show Olliver was convicted in 1999 in Port Arthur, Texas, of a misdemeanor charge of making terroristic threats.
Wayne County Schools didn't mandate background checks on prospective employees until 2002. But McCoy couldn't say whether it would have prevented Olliver from getting hired.
"We look at the misdemeanors and we look at the felonies. When they are known felons, of course, we're not hiring anyone," he said.
Michael Orlando Olliver, 47, of 115 Ramblewood Drive, was charged with attempted murder after Erica Shariss Jennings, 37, was stabbed repeatedly inside her townhouse near Cove Bridge Road. He is being held in the Wake County Jail on a $500,000 bond.
Olliver taught physical education at Southern Wayne High School and coached the basketball team from 2000 to 2004. He made headlines a few years ago as a father helping his son battle a rare medical condition.
WRAL profiled Olliver when a rare virus temporarily paralyzed his son from the waist down. Mikey Olliver was the star player on his father's basketball team.
The story followed the family as the teen walked again and his father helped him work his way back on the basketball court.
Marvin McCoy, who works for Wayne County Schools, said he was surprised to learn of the charges against Olliver.
"There is nothing negative or derogatory in his records that would raise a red flag to make us be concerned," McCoy said.
Court records show Olliver was convicted in 1999 in Port Arthur, Texas, of a misdemeanor charge of making terroristic threats.
Wayne County Schools didn't mandate background checks on prospective employees until 2002. But McCoy couldn't say whether it would have prevented Olliver from getting hired.
"We look at the misdemeanors and we look at the felonies. When they are known felons, of course, we're not hiring anyone," he said.
