Craigslist transaction leads to murder
On the evening of Nov. 29, the Columbus County Sheriff's Office was called to the 100 block of Sellers Town Road of Whiteville after a man was found unconscious in a vehicle.
George Cleveland Stump Sr., 73, suffered a gunshot wound to his head. He was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. Deputies found Stump's grandson, 23-year-old Tristan Lavonne Stavee, dead of a gunshot wound nearby.
Stump Sr.'s daughter, Leeann Stump, says the pair traveled from Hope Mills to Columbus County to purchase a 2011 Chevy Camaro her father saw on a Craiglist ad.
"They killed my son and he's only 23. And my dad ... they don't know if he's going to make it or not," Stump said. "They were just ambushed, and they stole the money and beat and shot both of them."
Leeann Stump says her father was carrying $4,000 cash.
Authorities arrested Mark Anthony Nelson, 24, of Tabor City on Dec. 2. Nelson was charged with murder, attempted first-degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, robbery with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm by a felon. Nelson is being held without bond.
Two days later, they arrested a Tabor City woman on similar charges. Tamika Shatavia Ford, 29, of Tabor City was taken into custody and charged with murder, attempted first-degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, robbery with a dangerous weapon and failure to appear on a misdemeanor. Ford received a $1,250,500 secured bond.
A GoFundMe page has raised $8,000 for the family's funeral costs.
