The man accused killing an elderly man nearly two years ago after luring him from home on the pretext of helping with a broken-down scooter was formally arraigned in Iredell County Superior Court.
Bobby Joe Jackson Jr., 47, entered a plea of not guilty on a variety of charges, ranging from first-degree murder to robbery to extortion.
The capital murder trial of a man charged with killing an 88-year-old man more than two years ago is still docketed for early November, but that could change as one of his attorneys withdrew from the case Friday afternoon.
Dan Dolan, one of two attorneys appointed to represent Bobby Joe Jackson in the March 2013 death of Lindsey Stikeleather, told Iredell County Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Joe Crosswhite he had a conflict of interest, which left him no choice but to withdraw from the case.
The state is seeking the death penalty for Jackson and death penalty cases require two defense attorneys.
It was not a time of sadness. Instead, it was a time of celebration of loved ones taken by violence.
The Iredell Homicide Survivors Support Group lit candles and released balloons Tuesday night at the group’s monthly meeting in memory of their loved ones.
For another member of the group, Ruth Stikeleather, an arrest was made days after the death of her husband, Lindsey, 88, in 2013--that case is tentatively scheduled for trial in June.
http://www.statesville.com/news/mur...cle_da6d54ca-32fb-11e6-80ad-83ae4df5cf71.htmlA trial date has been set for the Statesville man accused in the 2013 kidnapping, robbery and killing of 88-year-old Lindsey Stikeleather.
Bobby Joe Jackson, of Deer Creek Trail, will face the death penalty in the trial, which is expected to start during a special session of Iredell County Superior Court the week of July 25.
Unleashing three years of pent-up emotions, Lisa Eidson addressed her father’s killer during his plea hearing Wednesday in Iredell County Superior Court.
“Why is your life more valuable than my dad’s?” Eidson said loudly as tears flowed down her face. "You want us to spare your life? Where was your compassion when you threw his body away like garbage under that bridge?
Cruel and unusual punishment … I heard that ad nauseam. I wanted to throw up every time it was said in this courtroom. Cruel and unusual punishment is bashing a man’s skull in until his eyeball pops out, and then leaving him there to die under a bridge alone. And then coming back and cutting his throat. I keep hearing what a terrible life you have had. Cry me a river! Not one thing you have been through in your 48 years of life can ever justify what you did to my father.
Before sentencing, Susan Rohrbacher, Stikeleather’s oldest granddaughter, described her grandfather to the judge.
“He was an amazing example of unconditional love and acceptance of everyone,” Rohrbacher said. “It’s hard for me to understand or fathom how anyone could take a life … who would give anything to help someone in need.
“His last act here on earth was … helping the very person who took his life,” she said. “No amount of years spent in prison will take away the hurt this man has caused to our family.”
Jackson, 48, of Statesville, avoided the death penalty by pleading guilty to the crimes against the 88-year-old Stikeleather, a man well-known in the Statesville area.
The plea came following results of inconclusive mental evaluations recently performed to determine if Jackson was mentally competent to stand trial, according to Assistant District Attorney Mikko Red Arrow.
Judge Joe Crosswhite sentenced Jackson to life in prison without parole, along with a maximum of 231 months for kidnapping, 204 months for robbery and 59 months for extortion.
Ruth Stikeleather was married to Lindsey for 70 years and said her life has been altered due to his absence.
First, I would like to say thank you to the district attorney's office for the hard work and kindness they showed our family for the past three-and-a-half years. Also to the Iredell County Sheriffs Office for all they have done and continue to do for us. My life will never be the same. Lindsey and I were married for 70 years and friends all the way through school. I didnt know life before him. I can't put into words the loss and loneliness I feel, but with God, family, and friends, I will get through this.
I am working on forgiveness and have (Jacksons) family in my prayers.
The man accused of aiding the killer of an elderly Iredell County man was sentenced to two-and-a half years of supervised probation for his part in the crime.
Preston Kirk Long, 60, of Statesville pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice on Nov. 2 in Iredell County Superior Court. Long was also found guilty of possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a schedule II controlled substance.
A charge of being an accessory after the fact to the murder was dismissed.
The charges stem from Longs involvement in the March 2013 murder of 88-year-old Lindsey Stikeleather of Statesville.
According to police warrants, Jackson gave Long the money to hold.