1 00:00:04,879 --> 00:00:07,160 Speaker 1: What's going on. Thank you so much for listening to 2 00:00:07,200 --> 00:00:09,640 this podcast. It is heard live every day from noon 3 00:00:09,679 --> 00:00:12,480 to three on WBT Radio in Charlotte. And if you 4 00:00:12,560 --> 00:00:16,719 want exclusive content like invitations to events, the weekly live stream, 5 00:00:16,760 --> 00:00:19,239 my daily show prep with all the links, become a patron, 6 00:00:19,320 --> 00:00:22,640 go to vpeteclendershow dot com. Make sure you hit the 7 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:25,160 subscribe button. Get every episode for free right to your 8 00:00:25,160 --> 00:00:27,719 smartphone or tablet. And again, thank you so much for 9 00:00:27,760 --> 00:00:33,320 your support. All right, So, the trial for the murderers 10 00:00:33,960 --> 00:00:39,359 of Scott Brooks, the well known restauranteur in No Dah 11 00:00:40,079 --> 00:00:46,119 neighborhood in just north of Uptown called No Da. It'll 12 00:00:46,119 --> 00:00:49,560 resume tomorrow. There's no trial today because of Veterans Day. 13 00:00:50,880 --> 00:00:57,439 Prosecutors though this is according to wsoctv's Hunter Saints. Prosecutors 14 00:00:57,479 --> 00:01:05,879 have presented surveillance footage showing two masked suspects approaching the business. 15 00:01:06,760 --> 00:01:09,640 This was back in twenty nineteen. It has taken six 16 00:01:09,719 --> 00:01:13,760 years for this case to come to trial. Scott Brooks 17 00:01:13,879 --> 00:01:18,159 and his twin brother owned Brooks's Sandwich House and he 18 00:01:18,239 --> 00:01:21,280 had approached the business. He was opening up for the day. 19 00:01:21,280 --> 00:01:24,400 It was early in the morning. I think it was 20 00:01:24,439 --> 00:01:29,359 like four in the morning or so. The assistant DA 21 00:01:29,640 --> 00:01:32,719 trying the case, Heidi Pearlman, said, their business talking about 22 00:01:32,719 --> 00:01:36,959 the murderers, alleged murders, Their business was shooting when things 23 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:42,680 didn't go their way. She has been allowed to bring 24 00:01:42,719 --> 00:01:48,680 in evidence of other murders, and so she's making this 25 00:01:48,799 --> 00:01:52,319 connection that this is basically the mo of these defendants. 26 00:01:52,799 --> 00:01:55,719 It's to rob people and then murder them, so there 27 00:01:55,719 --> 00:02:00,439 are no witnesses. The footage showed Scott Brooks aviving at 28 00:02:00,439 --> 00:02:04,640 his restaurant before sunrise, unaware that the armed suspects were 29 00:02:04,640 --> 00:02:10,240 following him. Prosecutors detailed that after Brooks was robbed, he 30 00:02:10,319 --> 00:02:14,280 attempted to defend himself with a gun from his coat pocket, 31 00:02:15,280 --> 00:02:19,199 and the murderers then shot him. They got about one 32 00:02:19,280 --> 00:02:24,759 hundred bucks in cash. Quote. As soon as Scott pulled 33 00:02:24,800 --> 00:02:28,120 it out and tried to protect himself, one of the 34 00:02:28,120 --> 00:02:31,479 defendants started firing and he did not stop until Scott 35 00:02:31,560 --> 00:02:35,599 was on the ground. That's according to the assistant DA Pearlman. 36 00:02:36,719 --> 00:02:42,680 The defense is attempting to cast doubt on the investigation. 37 00:02:44,080 --> 00:02:51,280 See we have to ignore the video of the murder 38 00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:57,960 because the problem was the investigation. See She said that 39 00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:05,639 the crime scene was not properly handled by CMPD. That's 40 00:03:06,280 --> 00:03:11,919 going to exonerate these guys, see after they were caught 41 00:03:12,039 --> 00:03:18,800 on video murdering Scott Brooks. It's the way the CMPD 42 00:03:19,000 --> 00:03:22,159 handled the crime scene after the fact. That's the reason 43 00:03:22,199 --> 00:03:24,280 why we can't be sure that the guys on the 44 00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:28,400 video murdering Scott Brooks are not the guys that murdered 45 00:03:28,479 --> 00:03:33,840 Scott Brooks. I guess well, look, sometimes you don't have 46 00:03:33,879 --> 00:03:39,000 a strong defense to mount Okay. Laura Baker, defense attorney 47 00:03:39,280 --> 00:03:44,400 for one of the murderers. Alleged murders, question the integrity 48 00:03:44,439 --> 00:03:48,599 of the crime scene, stating quote, is that a problem 49 00:03:48,639 --> 00:03:52,000 for your original crime scene when people come in and 50 00:03:52,120 --> 00:03:58,960 stash their trash on your original crime scene? Yes? So, 51 00:03:59,039 --> 00:04:03,599 I guess what, maybe some homeless people made their way 52 00:04:03,599 --> 00:04:07,159 into the crime scene or something. Because he wasn't discovered immediately, 53 00:04:07,719 --> 00:04:10,080 his body was found a couple hours later, if I recall, 54 00:04:11,120 --> 00:04:15,599 prosecutors alleged that defendants Steven Staples and Terry Conner had 55 00:04:15,639 --> 00:04:19,759 a pattern of robbing cash only businesses and then killing 56 00:04:19,839 --> 00:04:27,639 victims to cover up their crimes. A CMPD officer testified 57 00:04:28,519 --> 00:04:33,600 about another homicide, a double homicide that has been linked 58 00:04:33,680 --> 00:04:37,759 to these two defendants. It involved a man and a 59 00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:44,120 woman found dead in a range rover with their hands 60 00:04:44,279 --> 00:04:55,519 and faces taped. So just for a moment, think about 61 00:04:55,560 --> 00:04:59,399 their final moments. These people were executed in their car 62 00:05:00,079 --> 00:05:06,839 in Charlotte. They had their hands wrapped up in tape 63 00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:10,040 and their face is wrapped up in tape. I imagine 64 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:14,199 it could be like over their mouths, mouths and eyes. 65 00:05:16,959 --> 00:05:23,079 And then murder that executed in their car. That's that's 66 00:05:23,120 --> 00:05:30,120 the double murder that's connected to Scott Brooks's murder. I 67 00:05:30,199 --> 00:05:36,759 recall that there was Yeah, So they are accused of 68 00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:39,120 robbing and shooting Brooks to death at four forty five 69 00:05:39,240 --> 00:05:43,199 am December ninth, twenty nineteen, as he was preparing to 70 00:05:43,240 --> 00:05:51,560 open Brooks's sandwich house. I had the to do to 71 00:05:51,639 --> 00:05:55,439 do in one of these stories here, Oh yeah, there 72 00:05:55,480 --> 00:06:00,560 it is. The suspects have extensive criminal records are connected 73 00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:05,560 to several homicides. Staples, at eighteen years old, carjacked a 74 00:06:05,600 --> 00:06:10,279 public works truck and trailer before crashing it and taking off. 75 00:06:11,199 --> 00:06:13,839 Staples and his buddies were then arrested after that for 76 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:20,439 kicking in hundreds of doors, hundreds of doors across the city. 77 00:06:21,360 --> 00:06:25,560 An armed robbery sent Staples to prison in twenty ten. 78 00:06:25,759 --> 00:06:30,680 He was released in twenty sixteen. Three years later, he 79 00:06:30,800 --> 00:06:37,600 went on a killing spree shortly after investigators shortly after 80 00:06:38,800 --> 00:06:45,120 he allegedly murdered Scott Brooks. Investigators said Staples became their 81 00:06:45,160 --> 00:06:49,680 suspect in a December twenty third, twenty nineteen slag of 82 00:06:49,720 --> 00:06:54,040 Anthony Leeks, also in Charlotte. So again they're murdering these 83 00:06:54,079 --> 00:07:02,240 people days before Christmas. Like the wreckage, the absolute wreckage 84 00:07:02,879 --> 00:07:06,920 that these men have left in their wake is an 85 00:07:06,920 --> 00:07:11,720 abomination and is an indictment on everybody that has had 86 00:07:11,839 --> 00:07:16,079 any interaction with them in the criminal justice system. It 87 00:07:16,199 --> 00:07:25,480 is shameful and people are dead because of it. The people, 88 00:07:25,519 --> 00:07:30,079 I would point out, the people that pay for the 89 00:07:30,199 --> 00:07:35,519 justice system through their tax dollars, that pay for an 90 00:07:35,639 --> 00:07:41,720 umbrella of security so they may lead peaceful, productive lives, 91 00:07:42,040 --> 00:07:47,480 engaging in commerce that generates revenue for all of these 92 00:07:47,480 --> 00:07:50,920 city functions and all of the projects that you guys 93 00:07:50,959 --> 00:07:54,319 want to build, all of the bright and shiny things. 94 00:07:55,920 --> 00:07:58,879 These are the productive members of your society that are 95 00:07:58,920 --> 00:08:03,120 being hunted and pray to upon by these career criminals 96 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:10,879 that go on murder sprees. Staples and Connor, whom detectives 97 00:08:10,879 --> 00:08:14,439 called partners in crime, were also charged in a double 98 00:08:14,439 --> 00:08:19,639 homicide involving Asa Shannon and Chavon Joseph, who were found 99 00:08:19,720 --> 00:08:22,639 dead in their range rover as I mentioned, along a 100 00:08:22,720 --> 00:08:26,839 Tondo Avenue January eleventh, twenty twenty. Both shot in the 101 00:08:26,839 --> 00:08:32,279 head the home they were associated with, which is a 102 00:08:32,279 --> 00:08:34,279 weird way to say that, but I guess they lived 103 00:08:34,279 --> 00:08:38,720 there or rented it or something. But they had ransacked 104 00:08:38,759 --> 00:08:42,679 their home and burglarized their home, so they murdered them 105 00:08:42,679 --> 00:08:47,080 and they took I guess they found out where these 106 00:08:48,080 --> 00:08:52,360 victims lived from maybe the car registration in the glovebox, 107 00:08:53,120 --> 00:08:57,080 maybe on their driver's license, from their wallet purse, and 108 00:08:57,120 --> 00:08:59,240 then they went to the home, or maybe they went 109 00:08:59,279 --> 00:09:01,159 to the home first, or maybe they went to the 110 00:09:01,200 --> 00:09:03,840 home and kidnapped these people and then murdered them along 111 00:09:03,919 --> 00:09:09,240 a Tondo Avenue. I'm not sure the details. Judge trosh 112 00:09:09,919 --> 00:09:12,279 said that the crimes on a Tondo Avenue and at 113 00:09:12,320 --> 00:09:15,639 Brooks Sandwich House shared a similar motive, which was getting 114 00:09:15,720 --> 00:09:19,159 quick cash and allegedly killing to avoid being identified. So 115 00:09:19,200 --> 00:09:21,440 we allowed it to come in as evidence. The suspects 116 00:09:21,440 --> 00:09:25,120 defense attorneys hope the other case would not be allowed 117 00:09:25,159 --> 00:09:29,279 in as evidence, but it will be. Oh Staples, he 118 00:09:29,320 --> 00:09:31,679 had already pleaded guilty to second degree murder for killing 119 00:09:31,720 --> 00:09:34,879 a guy up in Hickory on January twenty third. He's 120 00:09:34,960 --> 00:09:43,639 already imprisoned for that one, infuriating you know. Stories are powerful. 121 00:09:43,679 --> 00:09:46,799 They help us make sense of things, to understand experiences. 122 00:09:47,080 --> 00:09:49,360 Stories connect us to the people of our past while 123 00:09:49,360 --> 00:09:52,799 transcending generations. They help us process the meaning of life, 124 00:09:52,840 --> 00:09:56,720 and our stories are told through images and videos. Preserve 125 00:09:56,840 --> 00:09:59,960 your stories with Creative Video. Started in nineteen ninety si 126 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:02,960 Evan in Minhill, North Carolina. It was the first company 127 00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:06,799 to provide this valuable service, converting images, photos and videos 128 00:10:06,879 --> 00:10:11,200 into high quality produced slide shows, videos and albums. The trusted, 129 00:10:11,320 --> 00:10:14,320 talented and dedicated team at Creative Video will go over 130 00:10:14,399 --> 00:10:17,200 all of the details with you to create a perfect project. 131 00:10:17,320 --> 00:10:20,480 Satisfaction guaranteed. Drop them off in person or mail them. 132 00:10:20,519 --> 00:10:22,840 They'll be ready in a week or two. Memorial videos 133 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:27,200 for your loved ones, videos for rehearsal, dinners, weddings, graduations, Christmas, 134 00:10:27,320 --> 00:10:31,480 family vacations, birthdays, or just your family stories all told 135 00:10:31,519 --> 00:10:35,240 through images. That's what your photos and videos are. They 136 00:10:35,240 --> 00:10:38,120 are your life told through the eyes of everyone around 137 00:10:38,120 --> 00:10:40,399 you and all who came before you, and they will 138 00:10:40,399 --> 00:10:43,759 tell others to come who you are. Visit creative video 139 00:10:44,000 --> 00:11:57,399 dot com. That's a long distance dedication to the Navy 140 00:11:58,240 --> 00:12:01,759 anchors away, Happy vetteran to all who served and all 141 00:12:01,799 --> 00:12:06,159 their families as well for your sacrifice. Also, yes, I 142 00:12:06,240 --> 00:12:12,480 have played the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard 143 00:12:13,639 --> 00:12:18,879 and now the Navy. One remains. Which one is it? 144 00:12:20,440 --> 00:12:24,519 I did the alphabetical also, so this like there's I 145 00:12:24,559 --> 00:12:26,200 was going to go random, but then I was like, no, 146 00:12:26,279 --> 00:12:28,879 I don't want people to accuse me of playing favorites 147 00:12:28,960 --> 00:12:31,480 or anything like that, so I just did them alphabetically. 148 00:12:32,720 --> 00:12:36,480 So that's a hint for you for the last one. 149 00:12:37,159 --> 00:12:41,519 So not far from where Scott Brooks was murdered in 150 00:12:41,559 --> 00:12:47,080 twenty nineteen in the Noda neighborhood, there's another neighborhood outside 151 00:12:47,080 --> 00:12:51,639 of Uptown Charlotte. It's called Plaza Midwood. In this story 152 00:12:51,960 --> 00:12:58,039 from four days ago, Monroe police set a suspect connected 153 00:12:58,080 --> 00:13:02,039 to a double homicide in Monroe is the same man 154 00:13:02,080 --> 00:13:09,120 responsible for another killing in North Charlotte. Adam Latif Mercado, 155 00:13:09,919 --> 00:13:14,919 thirty four, of Monroe, killed two men at an apartment 156 00:13:14,960 --> 00:13:20,879 complex in Nelda Drive in Monroe. He stole one of 157 00:13:20,879 --> 00:13:24,759 the victim's cars and drove it to a Plaza Midwood 158 00:13:24,799 --> 00:13:30,480 warehouse where he then killed Gerald Thomas Barnes, sixty eight 159 00:13:30,559 --> 00:13:34,799 years old, in the warehouse on Central Avenue. It was 160 00:13:34,879 --> 00:13:40,639 about ten pm. Surveillance video showed Mercado walk up to 161 00:13:40,759 --> 00:13:44,759 Barnes at about two pm and showed him showed him, 162 00:13:45,279 --> 00:13:47,919 opened up his book bag and showed Barnes something in 163 00:13:48,000 --> 00:13:52,679 the book bag. The video shows Mercado then stabbing Barnes 164 00:13:52,799 --> 00:13:58,240 multiple times before stealing his wallet and his car. So 165 00:13:58,279 --> 00:14:02,720 the murder occurred at two o'clock in the afternoon, but 166 00:14:03,039 --> 00:14:08,639 his body was not discovered until ten pm. That was 167 00:14:08,679 --> 00:14:14,960 from WSOCTV. Also from WSOCTV in I think this was 168 00:14:15,039 --> 00:14:18,000 the one of the first stories that they put out 169 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:21,080 on this. Yeah, this was one of the first stories. 170 00:14:23,080 --> 00:14:25,519 He showed him something in the backpack before stabbing him 171 00:14:25,600 --> 00:14:29,720 in the neck. The suspect demanded the victim's car keys. 172 00:14:30,159 --> 00:14:34,799 The suspect then stabbed the victim more times after he 173 00:14:34,960 --> 00:14:39,039 was given the keys. The suspect then stole the victim's 174 00:14:39,080 --> 00:14:46,799 wallet and his vehicle, the Honda fit vehicle. Barnes's family 175 00:14:46,840 --> 00:14:51,519 expressed their devastation and frustration, believing that the system failed 176 00:14:51,519 --> 00:14:55,039 them by allowing Mercado, who has a wait for it, 177 00:14:55,440 --> 00:14:59,039 a lengthy criminal record dating back to two thousand and nine, 178 00:15:00,159 --> 00:15:08,759 to remain free. Yeah. Yeah, you should be frustrated with 179 00:15:08,799 --> 00:15:11,320 a system that allows this man to continue to walk 180 00:15:11,360 --> 00:15:14,240 the streets, as should the family of the other two 181 00:15:14,519 --> 00:15:24,080 people who were murdered. The family of Gerald Thomas Barnes 182 00:15:26,320 --> 00:15:28,679 said they knew something was wrong when he did not 183 00:15:28,879 --> 00:15:32,720 check in on them. They got very concerned about him 184 00:15:33,480 --> 00:15:37,559 when they called the warehouse Thursday afternoon and he did 185 00:15:37,559 --> 00:15:40,960 not answer. And that's unusual because in addition to being 186 00:15:40,960 --> 00:15:48,840 a businessman being a productive member of our Charlotte community, 187 00:15:48,919 --> 00:15:53,840 he was also his wife's caregiver. He and his wife 188 00:15:53,919 --> 00:15:57,879 were married for twenty five years, and he always answered 189 00:15:57,960 --> 00:16:02,720 his phone. He wasn't answering the phone. His family got 190 00:16:02,799 --> 00:16:06,759 very worried. They contacted an employee that had a key 191 00:16:06,840 --> 00:16:10,559 to the business, and when he entered the warehouse, he 192 00:16:10,639 --> 00:16:19,600 found Barnes's body. Charlotte Mecklburgh police then contacted Monroe police 193 00:16:20,279 --> 00:16:26,120 because the stolen car at the warehouse. At the scene, 194 00:16:26,320 --> 00:16:28,799 they ran the tags and they said, this belongs to 195 00:16:28,840 --> 00:16:32,360 somebody in Monroe. They call Monroe police, you may want 196 00:16:32,360 --> 00:16:35,679 to go do a wellness check at these apartments. When 197 00:16:35,720 --> 00:16:38,799 police arrived a couple hours later, they found Matthew Charles 198 00:16:38,919 --> 00:16:43,679 Moody fifty two and James Curtis Wallace forty nine, dead 199 00:16:43,960 --> 00:16:50,240 inside a first floor apartment. Mercado was taken into custody 200 00:16:50,600 --> 00:16:55,200 in Anson County and transferred back to Mecklenburg to be charged. 201 00:16:56,320 --> 00:16:58,840 Investigators in Monroe say there were no signs of forced 202 00:16:58,960 --> 00:17:01,279 entry into the apartment and they have not released the 203 00:17:01,320 --> 00:17:03,919 cause of death. So this guy went on a triple 204 00:17:03,960 --> 00:17:12,160 homicide murder spree. It's infuriating, all right. If you're listening 205 00:17:12,160 --> 00:17:13,759 to this show, you know I try to keep up 206 00:17:13,759 --> 00:17:15,559 with all sorts of current events, and I know you 207 00:17:15,599 --> 00:17:18,079 do too, And you've probably heard me say get your 208 00:17:18,079 --> 00:17:21,960 news from multiple sources. Why, Well, because it's how you 209 00:17:22,039 --> 00:17:25,000 detect media bias, which is why I've been so impressed 210 00:17:25,000 --> 00:17:28,759 with ground News. It's an app and it's a website, 211 00:17:28,839 --> 00:17:31,240 and it combines news from around the world in one 212 00:17:31,279 --> 00:17:34,720 place so you can compare coverage and verify information. You 213 00:17:34,759 --> 00:17:38,319 can check it out at check dot ground, dot news 214 00:17:38,799 --> 00:17:41,920 slash pete. I put the link in the podcast description too. 215 00:17:42,240 --> 00:17:44,599 I started using ground News a few months ago and 216 00:17:44,759 --> 00:17:47,359 more recently chose to work with them as an affiliate 217 00:17:47,359 --> 00:17:50,680 because it lets me see clearly how stories get covered 218 00:17:50,759 --> 00:17:53,680 and by whom. The blind spot feature shows you which 219 00:17:53,720 --> 00:17:56,559 stories get ignored by the left and the right. See 220 00:17:56,599 --> 00:18:01,640 for yourself check dot ground, dot news slash pete. Subscribe 221 00:18:01,680 --> 00:18:04,559 through that link and you'll get fifteen percent off any subscription. 222 00:18:04,880 --> 00:18:07,640 I use the Vantage plan to get unlimited access to 223 00:18:07,720 --> 00:18:11,160 every feature. Your subscription then not only helps my podcast, 224 00:18:11,200 --> 00:18:13,519 but it also supports ground News as they make the 225 00:18:13,599 --> 00:18:17,359 media landscape more transparent. Let me jump over here to 226 00:18:17,480 --> 00:18:21,400 the phone lines and chat with Teresa. Welcome to the show, Teresa. 227 00:18:21,440 --> 00:18:21,839 How are you? 228 00:18:22,839 --> 00:18:23,400 Speaker 2: I'm fine? 229 00:18:23,440 --> 00:18:25,359 Speaker 1: How are you? I'm doing all right? What's going on? 230 00:18:26,680 --> 00:18:32,200 Speaker 2: Well? I am the young lady that Adam Mercaro tried 231 00:18:32,200 --> 00:18:35,480 to come into my office on me because I was 232 00:18:35,519 --> 00:18:40,559 evicting his girlfriend and my case and some other cases 233 00:18:40,680 --> 00:18:43,720 is what seeming to prison. They told me that he 234 00:18:43,759 --> 00:18:47,400 wouldn't be out before twenty twenty six, so I kind of, 235 00:18:47,519 --> 00:18:49,799 you know, relaxed a little bit. I quit carry my 236 00:18:49,880 --> 00:18:52,680 gun because you know, he had been on ankle monitor 237 00:18:52,680 --> 00:18:55,680 and cut it off. So I had been really worried 238 00:18:55,799 --> 00:18:59,519 till they caught him again. Well, I'm at the store 239 00:18:59,519 --> 00:19:05,119 about to months ago, and I hear somebody yell derogatory name, 240 00:19:05,759 --> 00:19:08,079 and I looked up and it was him, and I 241 00:19:08,240 --> 00:19:12,079 was so shocked that he was out of prison. Nobody 242 00:19:12,079 --> 00:19:15,559 contacted me, Nobody told me. I mean, this is a 243 00:19:15,559 --> 00:19:17,839 man that came tried to come up in my office 244 00:19:18,000 --> 00:19:21,359 with two guns, a knife. He had on gloves and 245 00:19:21,400 --> 00:19:24,119 a mask. He wasn't coming in there to see what 246 00:19:24,160 --> 00:19:27,960 I wanted for lunch. Coming in there, I guess to 247 00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:28,599 try to hurt me. 248 00:19:28,839 --> 00:19:31,720 Speaker 1: Of course, Yeah, it sounds like it, all right. So 249 00:19:33,279 --> 00:19:34,480 how long ago was this? 250 00:19:36,920 --> 00:19:41,079 Speaker 2: Twenty eighteen is when the day after Christmas was the 251 00:19:41,160 --> 00:19:41,960 day he tried. 252 00:19:41,759 --> 00:19:43,640 Speaker 1: To come up in here, all right, And so he 253 00:19:43,799 --> 00:19:47,079 was He had a girlfriend who was renting a property 254 00:19:47,119 --> 00:19:47,799 that you owned. 255 00:19:48,839 --> 00:19:50,440 Speaker 2: No, I'm a property manager. 256 00:19:50,559 --> 00:19:51,640 Speaker 1: Oh gosh, I've been. 257 00:19:51,519 --> 00:19:54,880 Speaker 2: Doing this same property here for about twenty nine years. 258 00:19:54,920 --> 00:19:58,359 And I had moved her from where he came from 259 00:19:58,480 --> 00:20:03,480 Monroe to him. Oh, and I had promised her. I 260 00:20:03,519 --> 00:20:05,680 told her to promise me she wouldn't have no dealings 261 00:20:05,720 --> 00:20:08,279 with him and that so she had a restraint in order. 262 00:20:08,319 --> 00:20:10,559 And I said, if he comes around now and you 263 00:20:10,640 --> 00:20:13,519 start letting him, I'll have to put you out. Well, 264 00:20:13,839 --> 00:20:16,240 she did good for about two years, and then all 265 00:20:16,240 --> 00:20:19,920 of a sudden, here he started coming, and so I 266 00:20:19,960 --> 00:20:23,200 sent her an eviction letter because of it. And I 267 00:20:23,880 --> 00:20:26,519 believe he thought that if he come in here, because 268 00:20:26,559 --> 00:20:30,440 I was I guess I was about sixty six back then. 269 00:20:30,920 --> 00:20:33,759 He I think he thought he could scare me that 270 00:20:33,839 --> 00:20:35,799 he'd be coming here on me. He could scare me 271 00:20:36,160 --> 00:20:38,559 and I would leave and the eviction would go away. 272 00:20:39,359 --> 00:20:41,960 But it wouldn't have went away. Whoever sits down at 273 00:20:41,960 --> 00:20:43,799 this job is gonna do the same job I'm doing. 274 00:20:45,480 --> 00:20:48,480 Speaker 1: So you yeah, so you sent the letter. How soon 275 00:20:48,559 --> 00:20:50,680 after the letter did he show up? 276 00:20:51,799 --> 00:20:54,839 Speaker 2: Well, she had thirty days to be out and we 277 00:20:54,839 --> 00:20:58,680 were doing court the week after December twenty sixth, and 278 00:20:58,759 --> 00:21:01,839 he came in. It was like two weeks later. He 279 00:21:01,880 --> 00:21:05,599 came in on December twenty sixth, tried to come in right. 280 00:21:06,319 --> 00:21:08,880 Speaker 1: So it's what he couldn't get through the door or something. 281 00:21:09,559 --> 00:21:12,160 Speaker 2: Well know what happened was, and I tell people all 282 00:21:12,200 --> 00:21:14,559 the time when I tell this story, is that God 283 00:21:15,000 --> 00:21:18,559 had his hands on me. My son worked late and 284 00:21:18,759 --> 00:21:21,880 for some reason that day he called me and he said, Mama, 285 00:21:21,920 --> 00:21:23,799 where are you at. I said, I'm in the office. 286 00:21:24,039 --> 00:21:26,039 He said, I got to see you. I said, what 287 00:21:26,039 --> 00:21:27,680 do you mean? He said, I just I feel the 288 00:21:27,759 --> 00:21:30,559 need to see you. So he come up here. So 289 00:21:30,640 --> 00:21:33,759 when Adam opened up the door, he thought it was 290 00:21:33,799 --> 00:21:36,880 just going to be me and I have another elderly assistant. 291 00:21:37,319 --> 00:21:38,880 He thought it was just going to be two women 292 00:21:38,920 --> 00:21:41,759 in here. He didn't expect to see a man sitting there. 293 00:21:42,119 --> 00:21:44,319 And when he snatched up the door saw my son, 294 00:21:44,400 --> 00:21:46,799 and I got a big son. He slammed the door 295 00:21:46,839 --> 00:21:49,960 shut and my son said, Mama, that guy had on 296 00:21:50,000 --> 00:21:52,400 a mask and everything I said, just locked the door. 297 00:21:52,440 --> 00:21:55,119 I figured it was somebody that had gotten off the bus, 298 00:21:55,279 --> 00:21:57,720 you know, because we deal with a lot of homeless 299 00:21:57,720 --> 00:22:02,160 people sometimes. And next thing I know, it wasn't ten minutes. 300 00:22:02,200 --> 00:22:04,279 He was trying to rip the back door off. He 301 00:22:04,519 --> 00:22:07,319 was like a crazy man trying to pull my back 302 00:22:07,319 --> 00:22:07,839 door down. 303 00:22:08,759 --> 00:22:10,799 Speaker 1: So you'd gone around to the back of the property 304 00:22:10,839 --> 00:22:14,279 to try to gain access that way after he got 305 00:22:14,319 --> 00:22:17,680 scared away from the front door. Yeah right, and so 306 00:22:17,720 --> 00:22:19,640 then so how did he so how did he end 307 00:22:19,720 --> 00:22:20,680 up leaving the property? 308 00:22:21,480 --> 00:22:23,599 Speaker 2: Well, I called the comps and I said, look, y'all 309 00:22:23,640 --> 00:22:25,200 need to come on. He's trying to tear my back 310 00:22:25,240 --> 00:22:27,519 door down. And they got here. They must have been 311 00:22:27,559 --> 00:22:29,839 pretty close, and they got here, and they chased him 312 00:22:29,880 --> 00:22:33,599 down and they got him at the apartment complex down 313 00:22:33,640 --> 00:22:36,480 below me. And they didn't bring him up here for 314 00:22:36,559 --> 00:22:39,200 me to see him. But when they when they came in, 315 00:22:39,359 --> 00:22:44,039 they said he had two guns and a knife, Miss Teresa, 316 00:22:44,559 --> 00:22:46,759 And I said, well, I don't take cash, so what 317 00:22:46,759 --> 00:22:49,079 would he be wanting to rob me for? She said 318 00:22:49,119 --> 00:22:51,799 that they said they didn't know. Well, I left and 319 00:22:51,839 --> 00:22:53,920 went I went on home because it kind of shook 320 00:22:53,960 --> 00:22:56,319 me a little bit sure, And of course I got 321 00:22:56,359 --> 00:22:58,079 to the grocery store and I got a call from 322 00:22:58,079 --> 00:23:01,000 a detective and he said, we're just trying to figure 323 00:23:01,000 --> 00:23:03,880 out why this guy from Monroe is all of a 324 00:23:03,920 --> 00:23:07,519 sudden in Charlotte. He said, we arrested him three weeks 325 00:23:07,559 --> 00:23:10,119 ago for breaking into the funeral home down below you. 326 00:23:11,359 --> 00:23:16,039 And I said from Monroe. I said what's his name? 327 00:23:16,599 --> 00:23:19,680 And he said Adam and I said Adam Mercardo. He 328 00:23:19,759 --> 00:23:23,000 said yeah yeah. I said, oh lord, he wasn't coming 329 00:23:23,000 --> 00:23:25,440 to rob me. I said, he was coming either to 330 00:23:25,519 --> 00:23:27,839 hurt me or kill me or try to scare me. 331 00:23:28,400 --> 00:23:30,200 I'm a victim his girlfriend. 332 00:23:30,039 --> 00:23:33,359 Speaker 1: Right, So where do you mind saying? Where? Like what 333 00:23:33,480 --> 00:23:36,599 part of town you were working in at this time? 334 00:23:36,680 --> 00:23:40,000 Speaker 2: Oh? I worked right here off of Freedom Drive upside 335 00:23:40,079 --> 00:23:42,160 apartments on Freedom Driving TONSLS. 336 00:23:42,200 --> 00:23:45,960 Speaker 1: Okay, so then all right, so they arrest him for that, 337 00:23:46,319 --> 00:23:48,960 and they what put him on. He gets released on 338 00:23:49,000 --> 00:23:49,880 an ankle monitor. 339 00:23:50,079 --> 00:23:53,599 Speaker 2: After that, Well, he didn't get released immediately, and I 340 00:23:53,680 --> 00:23:55,480 was going to go do a restraint order and the 341 00:23:55,519 --> 00:23:57,720 cop said, ah, he'll not get out. You don't got 342 00:23:57,720 --> 00:24:00,480 to worry about it. And a restraint their owner is 343 00:24:00,519 --> 00:24:03,720 only good as the papers written, only if they don't abide, bye, 344 00:24:04,160 --> 00:24:07,799 So don't worry about it. Well, it wasn't a month 345 00:24:07,880 --> 00:24:11,079 or so. They let him out on electronic martyring. They 346 00:24:11,119 --> 00:24:14,279 didn't call me, but the detectives called me and said, look, 347 00:24:14,359 --> 00:24:17,680 he's out on electronic monitoring. So that's when I started 348 00:24:17,720 --> 00:24:18,480 chilling in my gun. 349 00:24:18,680 --> 00:24:19,039 Speaker 1: Right. 350 00:24:19,119 --> 00:24:23,880 Speaker 2: Well, it wasn't. Oh god, I can't remember. Now, three 351 00:24:23,920 --> 00:24:26,319 weeks a month, I get a call at about eleven 352 00:24:26,440 --> 00:24:30,160 thirty at night, Miss Hunt. He's cut off the monitor bracelet. 353 00:24:30,240 --> 00:24:31,160 You need to be careful. 354 00:24:32,680 --> 00:24:34,079 Speaker 1: And so this was This would have been. 355 00:24:34,039 --> 00:24:35,839 Speaker 2: Another two and a half months to catch him. 356 00:24:36,200 --> 00:24:39,799 Speaker 1: So this would have been like twenty nineteen timeframe. Yes, okay, 357 00:24:39,480 --> 00:24:41,880 so they did. How did they end up catching him? 358 00:24:42,160 --> 00:24:42,519 Do you know? 359 00:24:43,440 --> 00:24:45,200 Speaker 2: I think they got him in a traffic stop if 360 00:24:45,200 --> 00:24:46,480 I'm not mistaken, okay. 361 00:24:46,519 --> 00:24:48,720 Speaker 1: And so at that point then he gets taken too 362 00:24:48,759 --> 00:24:52,079 what Mecklenburg jail and he stays there, yes, okay. 363 00:24:51,839 --> 00:24:54,519 Speaker 2: Yes, he remained there till we went to court. 364 00:24:54,680 --> 00:24:55,039 Speaker 1: And uh. 365 00:24:55,319 --> 00:24:58,000 Speaker 2: And it's like everything he had a he had a 366 00:24:58,079 --> 00:25:02,400 list of charges and I've never understood this, but they 367 00:25:02,400 --> 00:25:05,720 break that and dismissed the majority of them, and they 368 00:25:05,720 --> 00:25:08,440 only keep the ones that are giving the most time, 369 00:25:09,119 --> 00:25:13,160 like the gun having a gun by failing and the 370 00:25:13,200 --> 00:25:15,200 breaking and entering I think at the funeral home. 371 00:25:17,480 --> 00:25:20,119 Speaker 1: So I was there that day and I spoke, did 372 00:25:20,160 --> 00:25:21,960 they dismiss yours? 373 00:25:22,839 --> 00:25:23,200 Speaker 2: Yes? 374 00:25:23,400 --> 00:25:26,119 Speaker 1: They threw out the charges that he that he had 375 00:25:26,839 --> 00:25:30,400 caught for coming to your place. They tossed this, So 376 00:25:30,519 --> 00:25:31,359 is that a plea deal? 377 00:25:31,640 --> 00:25:34,440 Speaker 2: And there is. Yeah. Their excuse to me was, you know, 378 00:25:34,519 --> 00:25:37,119 it's really not that much time. You know, we're just 379 00:25:37,160 --> 00:25:41,240 gonna give him these these heavy, heavy ones that he'll. 380 00:25:41,039 --> 00:25:43,400 Speaker 1: Serve eight years for which he did not serve. 381 00:25:43,720 --> 00:25:46,640 Speaker 2: Serve. No, he didn't serve I know, a year. I 382 00:25:46,640 --> 00:25:47,480 don't think. 383 00:25:48,720 --> 00:25:49,599 Speaker 1: Wait say that again. 384 00:25:50,519 --> 00:25:53,759 Speaker 2: I don't think he served a year of that eight years, not. 385 00:25:53,799 --> 00:25:56,759 Speaker 1: A not even a year of an eight year sentence. 386 00:25:57,440 --> 00:25:59,480 Speaker 2: I don't think he served much time at all. 387 00:26:00,279 --> 00:26:02,319 Speaker 1: Yeah, because then he I mean, obviously he's out and 388 00:26:02,359 --> 00:26:04,759 this would have been around what at this point twenty 389 00:26:04,799 --> 00:26:07,880 twenty when he went to trial, right, and. 390 00:26:07,839 --> 00:26:11,200 Speaker 2: Nobody told me anything. I didn't get a phone call. 391 00:26:11,160 --> 00:26:13,799 Speaker 1: Because you were because you're charging. So that's it. So 392 00:26:13,839 --> 00:26:16,920 you're the charges against you got drapt or the charges 393 00:26:16,960 --> 00:26:19,279 against him for what he did to you. They tossed 394 00:26:19,319 --> 00:26:23,200 those out. So now you're not listed anymore as a victim. 395 00:26:23,519 --> 00:26:27,000 So now they're not contacting you because there's no record 396 00:26:27,119 --> 00:26:30,200 that you're connected to his his release. 397 00:26:31,240 --> 00:26:31,559 Speaker 2: Correct. 398 00:26:32,119 --> 00:26:36,680 Speaker 1: Unbelievable. Well, Teresa, I'm glad you're okay. He is in 399 00:26:36,720 --> 00:26:40,920 prison or he's in jail now. Unfortunately, three other people 400 00:26:40,920 --> 00:26:41,240 are dead. 401 00:26:41,240 --> 00:26:42,039 Speaker 2: Worry about him now? 402 00:26:42,200 --> 00:26:43,119 Speaker 1: Yeah three other men. 403 00:26:43,319 --> 00:26:45,359 Speaker 2: My worrion days over him are gone. 404 00:26:45,880 --> 00:26:49,440 Speaker 1: Yeah. Well it is still the Mecklenburg County court system, 405 00:26:49,640 --> 00:26:55,680 so you don't you don't know. Yeah, uh, Teresa, thanks 406 00:26:55,680 --> 00:26:57,319 so much for calling. I do appreciate it. 407 00:26:58,200 --> 00:26:59,359 Speaker 2: You're welcome, all right. 408 00:26:59,279 --> 00:27:03,640 Speaker 1: Take care of you, Glad you're okay. There you go 409 00:27:04,039 --> 00:27:07,039 like that's and for every Teresa, I'm sure there are 410 00:27:07,079 --> 00:27:12,920 dozens of others just you know, hunted by these predators 411 00:27:12,960 --> 00:27:19,839 that our court officials keep letting loose and our justice 412 00:27:20,000 --> 00:27:27,720 quote unquote justice system keeps letting loose. I don't understand it. 413 00:27:28,799 --> 00:27:30,640 I've tried to give people the benefit of the doubt. 414 00:27:30,640 --> 00:27:33,200 I've tried not to ascribe motive to people that are 415 00:27:33,200 --> 00:27:35,960 involved in the system that just let people walk out. 416 00:27:36,720 --> 00:27:40,319 And I'm just I'm at a loss. Here's a great idea. 417 00:27:40,480 --> 00:27:43,200 How about making an escape to a really special and 418 00:27:43,279 --> 00:27:46,400 secluded getaway in western North Carolina? Just a quick drive 419 00:27:46,519 --> 00:27:49,279 up the mountain and cabins of Asheville. Is your connection. 420 00:27:49,559 --> 00:27:52,680 Whether you're celebrating an anniversary, a honeymoon, maybe you want 421 00:27:52,680 --> 00:27:55,240 to plan a memorable proposal or get family and friends 422 00:27:55,240 --> 00:27:58,200 together for a big old reunion. Cabins of Asheville has 423 00:27:58,240 --> 00:28:01,559 the ideal spot for you. 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So so here's 445 00:30:44,440 --> 00:30:48,039 a bit of good news, if true on the crime front. 446 00:30:49,000 --> 00:30:51,279 This is a story that was at The Federalist a 447 00:30:51,319 --> 00:30:55,480 couple of days ago. An exclusive. President Donald Trump is 448 00:30:55,519 --> 00:31:00,279 set to a point. Dan Bishop as us a journey 449 00:31:00,319 --> 00:31:05,759 for the middle District of North Carolina. Former congressman, former 450 00:31:05,799 --> 00:31:11,759 state lawmaker, former Mecklenburg County commissioner, Conservative Republican. He's been 451 00:31:11,799 --> 00:31:15,039 working up at the Office of Management and Budget deputy director. 452 00:31:16,880 --> 00:31:19,839 A senior White House official confirmed this to The Federalist. 453 00:31:20,000 --> 00:31:26,039 Bishop served as a Conservative stalwart in Congress since twenty nineteen. 454 00:31:26,400 --> 00:31:29,319 He could start serving as US Attorney as early as 455 00:31:29,599 --> 00:31:33,720 this week on an interim appointment while awaiting Senate confirmation. 456 00:31:34,319 --> 00:31:38,960 But we'll see. Bishop was already confirmed once by the 457 00:31:39,000 --> 00:31:42,440 Senate in a fifty three to forty five vote earlier 458 00:31:42,480 --> 00:31:46,519 this year to take on that number two spot at OMB. 459 00:31:47,880 --> 00:31:51,480 So that sounds like a party line vote, which is 460 00:31:51,559 --> 00:31:58,960 unfortunate because Dan is supremely qualified for the gig. Bishop 461 00:31:59,319 --> 00:32:02,799 also served on the House Judiciary Committee as well as 462 00:32:02,799 --> 00:32:05,599 the Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government. Oh, 463 00:32:05,640 --> 00:32:09,480 I see, that's why Democrats didn't want to. As a lawyer, 464 00:32:09,799 --> 00:32:14,240 he was a commercial litigator for nearly thirty years, receiving 465 00:32:14,279 --> 00:32:20,400 accolades in legal circles like Business nc's legal Elite multiple times, 466 00:32:20,640 --> 00:32:25,519 as well as being selected by super lawyers multiple times. 467 00:32:27,359 --> 00:32:28,880 I don't think they say it like that. It's not 468 00:32:28,960 --> 00:32:31,240 required that you say it like that. I just always 469 00:32:31,279 --> 00:32:33,119 say it like that. I don't know what super lawyers are. 470 00:32:33,440 --> 00:32:36,920 I guess they're just really good super Maybe. Before serving 471 00:32:36,960 --> 00:32:39,680 in US Congress, Bishop served in the North Carolina State House. 472 00:32:39,720 --> 00:32:41,799 He served in the Senate. He was a county commissioner. 473 00:32:41,880 --> 00:32:43,880 That's actually where I met him back in the day. 474 00:32:44,160 --> 00:32:47,680 He got a degree in business administration from UNC Chapel 475 00:32:47,759 --> 00:32:53,240 Hill as well as his law degree there. As US attorney, 476 00:32:53,279 --> 00:32:55,759 he would be in charge of all federal law enforcement 477 00:32:55,799 --> 00:32:58,880 in the middle District of North Carolina. That is not Charlotte. 478 00:32:58,920 --> 00:33:01,880 We are in the western district. But he may be 479 00:33:01,960 --> 00:33:07,000 coming home, all right. That'll do it for this episode. 480 00:33:07,039 --> 00:33:09,119 Thank you so much for listening. I could not do 481 00:33:09,160 --> 00:33:11,319 the show without your support and the support of the 482 00:33:11,359 --> 00:33:14,400 businesses that advertise on the podcast, so if you'd like, 483 00:33:14,519 --> 00:33:16,599 please support them too and tell them you heard it here. 484 00:33:16,759 --> 00:33:19,279 You can also become a patron at my Patreon page 485 00:33:19,400 --> 00:33:22,960 or go to dpecleanershow dot com. Again, thank you so 486 00:33:23,039 --> 00:33:29,680 much for listening, and don't break anything while I'm gone.