In May of 2016, a newly-divorced mother-of-two moved to Raleigh, North Carolina, to start afresh. Instead, however, she would find herself the victim of a random and chilling crime, a crime that struck fear into the heart of the community. The case became a disturbing reminder that sometimes, people will do anything for money, and sometimes, you can become a victim in the sanctity of your own home.
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Audio Sources:
“Ronald Anthony Sentencing 09/08/15”
“Travion Smith Trial Opening Statements”
“Travion Smith Trial Day 1 Part 1”
“Travion Smith Trial Day 1 Part 4”
“Travion Smith Trial Day 2 Part 3”
“Travion Smith Trial Day 3 Part 2”
“Travion Smith Trial Day 5 Part 4”
“Travion Smith Trial Day 6 Part 2”
“Travion Smith Trial Defense Closing Argument”
“Travion Smith Trial Prosecution Closing Argument”
“Travion Smith Trial Penalty Phase Day 1 Part 1”
“Travion Smith Trial Penalty Phase Day 2 Part 2”
“Travion Smith Trial Sentencing 02/22/16”
Sources:
The News and Observer, 15 May, 2013 – “Girl, 8, Finds Mom Dead at North Hills Home”
Cleveland Daily Banner, 15 May, 2013 – “Jones Killed in N.C.”
Chattanooga Times Free Press, 16 May, 2013 – “Slain Lee Graduate was Putting Life Back Together”
The News & Observer, 16 May, 2013 – “Homicide Victim Had Just Moved to Raleigh to Manage a Bank Branch”
The Fayetteville Observer, 17 May, 2013 – “Obituaries”
Bladen Journal, 17 May, 2013 – “Jones”
The News & Observer, 21 May, 2013 – “Police Set Up Overnight Checkpoint Near Slain Banker’s Home”
CBS – 13 WBTW, 21 May, 2013 – “Police Pass Out Fliers to Gain Clues in Raleigh Mother’s Murder”
CBS – 13 WBTW, 22 May, 2013 – “Teen Girl, 2 Men Charged in Murder of NC Mom”
https://www.extraspace.com/blog/moving/city-guides/safe-affordable-neighborhoods-in-raleigh-nc/
CBS – 3 WRBL, 22 May, 2013 – “Suspects
The News & Observer, 23 May, 2013 – “3 Held in North Raleigh Slaying”
The News & Observer, 30 May, 2013 – “Random Violence Rare in the Triangle, But More Unsettling”
Cleveland Daily Banner, 31 May, 2013 – “Jones Service Slated Sunday”
Cleveland Daily Banner,, 2 June, 2013 – “Fundraiser is Underway for Memorial Bench, Plaque”
Associated Press, 3 June, 2013 – “Warrants Suggest Craigslist Led to Murder Suspects”
CBS – 17 WNCN, 3 June, 2013 – “Stolen Laptop Linked to Murder of North Hills Woman”
The News & Observer, 4 June, 2013 – “Slaying Linked to Burglary”
FOX – 8 WGHP, 8 May, 2014 – “Teen Charged in NC Murder Granted $1 Million Bond”
CBS – 17 WNCN, 8 May, 2014 – “Woman’s Bond Set at $1 Million in Raleigh’s North Hills Murder Case”
Associated Press, 8 September, 2015 – “Man Accused in 2013 Beating Death of Woman Pleads Guilty”
The News & Observer, 9 September, 2015 – “Sentence”
The News & Observer, 10 November, 2015 – “Defendant Argues Against Death Penalty”
Cleveland Daily Banner, 17 October, 2015 – “Trial Date Set for Defendant in Huggins Jones Murder”
Cleveland Daily Banner, 4 November, 2015 – “Junior Auxiliary 5K Fundraiser Honors Melissa Huggins Jones”
The News & Observer, 12 January, 2016 – “On Death Penalty, is This the Company We Want to Keep?”
The News & Observer, 3 February, 2016 – “Witness Describes Bloody Scene”
BladenOnline, 2 February, 2016 – “Witnesses Testify to Scene in Apartment, Automobile Break-Ins on the Night of Murder”
Cleveland Daily Banner, 2 February, 2016 – “Huggins Jones Murder Trial is Underway”
CBS – 17 WNCN, 3 February 2016 – “Stolen Laptop Sparked Arrest in North Hills Murder Case”
BladeOnline, 4 February 2016 – “Testimony in Second Day of Raleigh Murder Trial Focuses on Stolen Laptop”
The News & Observer, 4 February, 2016 – “Co-Defendant Describes What She Saw on Night of North Hills Homicide”
BladeOnline, 5 February, 2016 – “Redden Takes Stand in Day Three of Raleigh Murder Trial”
The News & Observer, 8 February, 2016 – “Prosecutors in North Hills Murder Trial Play Police Interrogation Video”
CBS – 17 WNCN, 9 February, 2016 – “Jury Hears Detective Question Suspect in North Hills Murder Trial”
The News & Observer, 9 February, 2016 – “Wake Jury Hears North Hills Murder Trial Defendant in Vidoetape”
CBS – 17 WNCN, 10 February, 2016 – “Investigators Describe Bloody Scene from Murder of North Hills Mom”
The News & Observer, 11 February, 2016 – “Medical Examiner Describes North Hills Murder Victim’s Injuries”
BladeOnline, 12 Febraury, 2016 – “Smith Will Not Take The Stand in Own Defense”
BladenOnline, 16 Febraury, 2016 – “Jury Finds Smith Guilty in Raleigh Murder”
CBS – 17 WNCN, 16 February, 2016 – “Jury to Weigh Life or Death”
The News & Observer, 16 February, 2016 – “Jury Finds Smith Guilty of 1st Degree Murder”
The News & Observer, 17 February, 2016 – “Girl Who Found Mother Dead in North Hills Apartment Testifies”
BladenOnline, 18 February, 2016 – “Testimony Continues in Sentencing Phase of Raleigh Murder Trial”
The News & Observer, 18 February, 2016 – “Wake Jury Hears About Smith’s Troubled Youth”
CBS – 9 WNCT, 20 February, 2016 – “Jury in North Hills Murder Trial Hears from Rebuttal Witnesses”
The News & Observer, 22 February, 2016 – “Jurors Recommend Life Sentence for Travion Smith in North Hills Murder Case”
CBS – 17 WNCN, 18 April, 2016 – “3rd Suspect in North Hills Murder Pleads Guilty”
