Man taken into custody after deadly house fire, assault in Sampson County

A man was found dead in a Sampson County home that went up in flames Sunday morning, and a woman was hospitalized after being assaulted.

Just before 1 a.m., the Sampson County E-911 Center received a call of an assault victim and a house fire with a person inside on Alex Benton Road in Newton Grove. When deputies, fire crews and EMS arrived, the mobile home was engulfed in flames. Harry Nathaniel Taylor, 64, was found dead inside the home, and a woman was found injured in the front yard. Elven Franklin, 69, was taken to the hospital for treatment.

The sheriff's office said Franklin was injured while trying to defend Taylor from being assaulted. Taylor and Franklin both lived at the home on Alex Benton Road.

Perry Rendel Folger, 46, of Faison, has been taken into custody in connection with the incident. Folger is currently in custody for burglary and felony assault. The incident is still under investigation with additional charges expected.

The Sampson County Fire Marshal's Office and Sampson County Sheriff's Office are investigating the incident with the help of the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). This incident is being treated as an assault, homicide and arson case at this time.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Sampson County Sheriff's Office at 910-592-4141.