Local News

Fayetteville Man Pleads Guilty In Double Murder

Posted 2006-08-03T21:00:10+00:00 - Updated 2004-03-02T16:23:00+00:00

A man charged with killing a pregnant teenager and her boyfriend has pleaded guilty.

James Kelliher will serve life in prison without parole. He was facing the death penalty.

Prosecutors say Kelliher murdered Eric Carpenter and Kelsea Helton in their Fayetteville apartment in 2001. They believe Kelliher, who was 17 years old at the time of the incident, was stealing drugs from the young couple.

Two other suspects, Joshua Ballard and Jerome Branch, are awaiting trial.

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