Murder trial slated for early October
By John Joyce
Published in News on September 28, 2014 1:50 AM
Gary Metzger
For six days in August 2011, Goldsboro police searched for a Goldsboro News-Argus employee who failed to show up for work one Friday.
More than three years later, one of the people charged in connection with her murder is set to stand trial.
The search for Jean Metzger Hubbard, 66, ended with the discovery of her body buried under leaves and debris behind her adopted brother's residence in a mobile home park off Country View Drive.
Gary Metzger, 57, and his wife, Ann Metzger, 37, were charged with an open count of murder after Goldsboro police first lost them then found them again in the woods behind Wilber's Barbecue on U.S. 70 East.
The manhunt lasted six hours.
According to police records, investigators first began to suspect the Metzgers after speaking with them about Mrs. Hubbard's disappearance.
Both were questioned about the last time they saw the victim. Each gave conflicting stories, investigators said.
After speaking with the Metzgers, police located Mrs. Hubbard's missing car in the parking lot of the Walmart at 1002 N. Spence Ave. Security camera footage allegedly showed the Metzgers walking away from the vehicle.
ATM footage showed what investigators say were both Metzgers using Mrs. Hubbard's bank cards to withdraw money from her accounts.
When police showed up at their home to question them further and to search for Mrs. Hubbard's remains, the couple fled into the woods.
The Wayne County Sheriff's Office and Goldsboro police combined efforts to bring the then-murder suspects into custody.
District Attorney Matt Delbridge will prosecute the case against Metzger, and Kinston-based defense attorney William W. Gerrans is expected to offer a defense of diminished capacity.
Delbridge said he feels as confident as he has with any other case, but thought it would not be fair to comment on the evidence or charges in any detail.
Records obtained from the Commonwealth of Virginia allegedly demonstrate years of physical, mental and emotional abuse endured by Metzger at the hands of his step-grandfather. Metzger spent time in foster care and in an orphanage before being adopted by the same family that adopted Mrs. Hubbard.
The defense is expected to argue that the abuse inflicted upon Metzger left him suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and periods of psychosis.
Gerrans cited ethical concerns regarding his client's case and declined to comment.
According to police records, Metzger and his wife strangled Mrs. Hubbard with a bag over her head, wrapped her body in a sheet and kept her in a closet for up to two days before relocating her body into the woods behind their home. Mrs. Metzger will be tried separately at a later date.
Jury selection for the Metzger trial begins Oct. 8.