Granville family suffers second tragedy in a week

Stephen Richard Spencer, 25, of 1317 E. 8th St. in Erie, was the stepson of restaurant owner Susie Gross.

Gross, 50, who owned Munching Marvin's in Berea, was the victim of a murder-suicide last week, Sheriff Brindell Wilkins Jr. said. She was divorced from Spencer's father at the time of her death.

Spencer was driving on N.C. Highway 1139 west of Stem just after midnight Monday when his vehicle went off the left side of the road and hit a tree, according to the state Highway Patrol. He was the only person in the car at the time. Authorities said he appeared to have been speeding and was not wearing a seat belt.