Wilson man sentenced to life after pleading guilty to killing dad, wife

The man accused of killing his father and wife has pleaded guilty to the charges and was ordered to serve life in prison as a result.

Court records show that Michael Joyner was convicted of the crimes.

Prosecutors decided not to seek the death penalty after he agreed to plead guilty in the case.

According to a published report, the incident began when Michelle Joyner discovered her husband was involved in an extra-marital affair with a woman who lived in California. The two argued and the dispute turned violent with a hammer attack on the woman before he used an ax to kill his father and then his wife.

Joyner fled immediately after the killings to California, which is where he was found one day after the double murder.

He was extradited back to North Carolina and Wilson County to stand trial in connection with the slayings.