Reward in Andy Evans homicide at $30,000
By Melody Brown-Peyton
Published in News on September 5, 2018 5:50 AM
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Andy Evans
The reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the former Fremont mayor's June 16 killing is now at $30,000.
State government is now offering a $5,000 reward, which adds to the $25,000 reward already on the table following money raised locally in donations provided by family members and friends.
Wayne County Sheriff Larry Pierce said the state reward may increase the chance of making an arrest.
"We hope that with the additional funds, it will inspire someone to provide information that will help us in our investigation that will lead to an arrest," Pierce said.
The State Bureau of Investigation is assisting in the case.
On June 16, over Father's Day weekend and just two days shy of his birthday, a family member found Andy Evans shot to death in a garage on his property at 129 Evans Farm Road. The investigation, now headed into its third month, has resulted in no arrests.
An autopsy performed in the N.C. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner confirmed that Evans died of a gunshot wound. Pierce ruled his death a homicide.
In July, Pierce went door-to-door in passing out yellow fliers at Fremont businesses noting the reward is being offered to anyone with information that results in an arrest in the case.
Evans, who served as town mayor from 1998 to 2003, is remembered by town officials, residents and friends as a forward-thinking leader who made a difference and helped shaped Fremont.
Evans was a lifelong farmer who served in several leadership positions in Fremont and Wayne County.
The town has not had a homicide since 2011 on New Year's Day at the Bentwood Court mobile home park. Honorio Grajales was charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of his live-in girlfriend, Teresa Pierce Harrelson. She was shot three times.
Anyone with information about the death of Evans is asked to contact the Wayne County Sheriff's Office at 919-731-1128 or 919-731-1480, the sheriff's office tip line at 919-705-1862, the SBI tip line at 1-800-334-3000 or Crime Stoppers at 919-735-2255. A text can be sent to Crime Stoppers at 919-222-4230.
Crime Stoppers will also pay a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to a felony arrest.
Callers remain anonymous, and a cash reward is provided if an arrest results in charges.