Man, 20, teen girl charged in murder
By Steve Herring
Published in News on April 14, 2015 1:46 PM
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Roderick Rico Wyche
LAGRANGE -- A 13-year-old girl and the 20-year-old man she was in a relationship with have been charged with the Sunday morning stabbing death of the girl's mother.
Roderick Rico Wyche, 20, of Promise Land Road in LaGrange is being held in the Lenoir County Sheriff's Detention Center with no bond. The girl has been taken into secure custody and is being held in a juvenile detention center.
They have each been charged with an open count of murder and conspiracy to commit murder, both felonies, in connection with the death of Wanda Lee Dethlefson.
Based on the evidence collected and information gathered during interviews, it was determined that the two had planned to murder Ms. Dethlefson, authorities said.
On Sunday at 2:33 a.m., the Lenoir County Sheriff's Office responded to a death investigation at 210-A East Washington St., LaGrange, where they found Ms. Dethlefson, who had been stabbed and was unresponsive.
She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Wyche allegedly entered the home and stabbed Ms. Dethlefson using a knife found in the home.
The girl allegedly participated in the planning and carrying out of the murder in addition to obstructing the investigation by providing false information to conceal Wyche's identity, Lenoir County Sheriff's Office officials said.
"The suspects in this crime have taken the life of a young woman whose children will now be without a mother," Sheriff Ronnie Ingram said. "The Lenoir County deputies that investigated this case worked non-stop since the initial dispatch to build our case against these suspected criminals and assure the safety of the citizens of LaGrange and Lenoir County.
"At this time, we can confirm that there is no threat to the community."
Ingram said Wyche and the teenager met at a local library and began a relationship, which the girl's mother was opposed to.
Ingram said the couple devised a plan to kill Ms. Dethlefson.
The sheriff said the teenager has been charged as an adult, but the district attorney's office must decide whether to try her as an adult.