Texas man back in NC to face murder charges in Granville couple's deaths

Edward Watson Campbell, 54, of Alvin, Texas, waived extradition Wednesday on multiple charges, including two counts of first-degree murder, in the Jan. 1 deaths of Jerome and Dora Faulkner, who lived near Oxford.

Authorities say he and his 21-year-old son, Eric Campbell, had driven from Texas to North Carolina in a stolen SUV before the slayings.

Granville County's sheriff has said he believes the couple was randomly targeted and that the motive was robbery.

Eric Campbell did not waive extradition and remains in police custody in Greenbrier County, W.Va.

In addition to murder, both men are also charged in North Carolina with two counts of felony cruelty to animals, robbery with a dangerous weapon, first-degree burglary, arson, larceny of a motor vehicle, identity theft and financial card theft.

Edward Campbell was being held without bond on the murder charges Friday afternoon.

He and Eric Campbell also face charges in West Virginia stemming from the shootout, which wounded two officers who tried to pull over the stolen SUV. Edward Campbell was shot in his leg.

Police found the Faulkners' bodies beneath a mattress in the back of the pickup truck.

Jerome Faulkner, 73, and his wife, 62, were well-known in the Oak Hill community where they lived. He was a retired fire chief in Oxford, and Dora Faulkner was a registered nurse who had worked at Central Regional Hospital in Butner.