UPDATE: Dead Man Linked to Michelle Bullard's Slaying

This was the girl who was kidnapped in a home invasion on New Years Day.
She was with a boyfriend and a second couple, watching movies when the place
was broken into and the other three were tied up and left in separate rooms.
When they freed themselves, they found Michele gone.
Dead Man Linked to Michelle Bullard's Slaying


Posted: Today at 11:45 a.m.
Updated: Today at 12:50 p.m.

Sanford ? A man who committed suicide almost two years ago kidnapped and
killed a Lee County woman hours before his death, authorities said Thursday.

Julie "Michelle" Bullard, 23, was abducted from a mobile home in the
Broadway community of Lee County on Jan. 2, 2006, by an armed intruder. Her
remains were found 10 months later in Cumberland County.

Investigators never named a suspect in the case but early on identified
David Earl Wilson, 49, as a person of interest because he roughly fit the
description of the intruder. He served more than 20 years in prison after
pleading guilty to a murder in 1975.

Within 19 hours of Bullard's disappearance, Wilson committed suicide on a
Harnett County road when deputies tried to pull him over.

Wilson's family has maintained that his suicide had nothing to do with
Bullard and that he was suffering health and marital problems.

But Lee County Sheriff Tracy Carter said Thursday that physical evidence in
the case and witness statements prove Wilson killed Bullard. He declined to
elaborate, saying the investigation is ongoing.

"Although the evidence is clear that Wilson acted alone in the robbery,
kidnapping and murder of Julie 'Michelle' Bullard, the investigation will
continue to remain open in regards to whether Wilson received any assistance
after he committed these crimes," Carter said at a news conference.

Bullard's mother, Karen Riojas, said identifying Wilson as her daughter's
killer doesn't provide any closure for her.

"He took something that was beyond precious to me ? just priceless ? (and I)
can't regain it," Riojas said. "To me, even though today is Michelle's
justice day, two wrongs don't make a right."

Investigators said an armed man wearing a mask broke into a mobile home
where Bullard was watching television with three friends. The gunman tied
the friends with tape and left each in a separate room, then stole cash and
small valuables.

By the time the victims freed themselves, Bullard and the intruder were
gone.

Bullard's wallet and purse turned up a few weeks later along a road in
southeastern Cumberland County. But intensive searches by authorities and
friends turned up no trace of her.

In October 2006, a hunter found Bullard's remains in an old cemetery in the
Cedar Creek community of Cumberland County, five miles from where her
belongings turned up.

An autopsy report stated Bullard died of blunt force trauma to the head. The
report said there was no evidence of injuries other than a blow to the left
side of her head.

http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/2134467/

A couple posts from a local message board:

here's an odd bit of info: the brother of david earl wilson lives and runs a
salvage yard about 2 miles from where michelle bullard's remains were
found...

coincidence? I think NOT.

and:

Perhaps this will give her family some closure. And unfortunately, it will
bring grief to the family of the murderer. I grew up very close to the area
where Michelle Bullard's remains were found and it's not an area that is
well traveled or well known. However, it stated in previous news stories
that the murderer had family in the area and was familiar with the wooded
areas since he was a hunter. In any case, a very sad ending to an even
sadder story. Hope everyone involved can get some contentment in the coming
days




.

Quantcast