Murderer is up for parole
By Jack Stephens
Published in News on October 2, 2005 2:10 AM
A Goldsboro man convicted of second-degree murder, second-degree kidnapping and armed robbery more than 25 years ago is being considered for parole.
Gerald Edward Bryant, now 54, was sentenced Dec. 18, 1970, by Judge Elbert Peele of Williamston to 11 to 14 years after being convicted by a Wayne County Superior Court jury of second-degree murder.
Bryant was accused of fatally shooting Robert Danvage, 64, with a pistol May 13, 1970, on South James Street in Goldsboro after the two men had argued.
After being released from prison, Bryant was accused of absconding from parole officers. He was charged with tying up two men, Floyd Uzzell and George Thomas Bryant, kidnapping them from Uzzell's home in May 1979, driving them in George Bryant's car and then shooting and robbing Bryant, who was not related to the suspect.
During the kidnapping, Uzzell eventually worked his hands free, removed a blindfold, jumped from the car at U.S. 117 South and Arrington Bridge Road, avoided gunshots, ran away and notified authorities.
The other victim, George Bryant, was taken to the Neuse River bridge on U.S. 117 South, shot three times, robbed of $4,000 and dumped on the bridge.
Gerald Bryant was arrested and pleaded guilty to second-degree kidnapping and armed robbery.
Judge Frank Brown of Tarboro sentenced Bryant on Nov. 27, 1979, to life in prison for kidnapping and 30 to 50 years for the robbery. Brown said he imposed a life sentence because the victim was not released in a safe place and was left seriously injured.
The N.C. Post-Release Supervision and Parole Commission is investigating Bryant's case for parole through the Mutual Agreement Parole Program, or MAPP. MAPP is a three-way agreement among the commission, the Division of Prisons and the offender.
Information gathered from individuals for and against Bryant's parole and other facts of the case will be considered by the commission.
Anyone interested in contacting the commission should call 1-919-716-3010, or send a letter to 4022 Yonkers Road, Raleigh, N.C. 27699-4222.