NC NC- James “Jamie” Lucas Smith IV, 19, & John Phillip Mattmiller, 37, robbed, bound & beaten to death @ the Woodson Music & Pawn shop, 19 Nov. '97

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May 24 '24

Cold Case Files: Two men found dead in Havelock pawn shop

HAVELOCK, N.C. (WNCT) — A robbery that happened in 1997, to this day, still has no answers concerning who did it and why it happened. James “Jamie” Lucas Smith IV was only 19 when…

www.wnct.com

'James “Jamie” Lucas Smith IV was only 19 when he started his job at a local pawn shop. He decided to leave East Carolina University because he was unhappy with his grades and courses. A friend he knew from frequenting a comic book store, John Phillip Mattmiller, 37, helped Smith get his position at the pawn shop.'

'Both Mattmiller and Smith were working their shifts at Woodson Music & Pawn on November 19, 1997. They were both later found dead.'

''Officers with the Havelock Police Department were running their routine checks when they noticed that the back door to the pawn shop was open. When they went in to check, the officers saw Mattmiller and Smith bound and beaten to death.

Not only were both men dead but there was also $30,000 in jewelry and several handguns missing. The shop sold different types of weapons but only guns were stolen.''

 

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2022 rbbm By Dave Jordan

25 years of reporting in ENC: The search for answers and justice in 1997 Havelock double murder

Brutal 1997 double murder remains unsolved

www.witn.com

''Both victims were bound, their heads had been covered, and they had both been bludgeoned with golf clubs.”

''One of McFadyen’s first calls about the double murder was to the SBI agent in charge of the coastal division, Tony Cummings, now the chief deputy at the Craven County Sheriff’s Office. Cummings says he “Was totally surprised at how violent and callous the condition of the victims were in.”

''He says the person or persons responsible, stole the video from the store surveillance system from the night of the murders. It has never been found.
Jewelry, guns, and cash were also taken that night, some of which have been recovered''

''Another part of the investigation is evolving technology that could bring about a DNA match. Fischer commented, “We still submit, we still evaluate all items of evidence that were on scene and we’re optimistic that something will develop.”