NC NC - Sonja Spruill Day, 33, Plymouth, 26 September 1994

[Aner79]

Source: NCSBI Cold Case Division
Link: NCSBI - Sonja Spruill Day

"Photo Not Available

Victim or Case Name and Number: Sonja Spruill Day

Crime Committed or Inflicted: Murder

Crime Date: 9/26/1994

City/County: Plymouth, Washington County

State: North Carolina

District: Northeastern

Description:

On Monday, September 26, 1994, Sonja Spruill Day was found dead in her home by her 11-year-old son and two school friends shortly after 3:30 p.m. when they returned from school. Ms. Day was 33 years old and lived in an apartment at 110G Sawmill Circle in Plymouth in Washington County.

Ms. Day's apartment was locked from inside or had been locked from the outside with a dead-bolt key. Her son did not have a key. He climbed up on the balcony of the second floor apartment and entered through the unlocked sliding glass doors. His mother's body was face-up in her bedroom with her throat cut and stab marks in her neck and chest. Her hands were bound at the wrist and tied to each corner of the headboard with electrical wire cut from the bedroom lamps in the apartment. One ankle was wrapped with a black bra but not tied to anything.

The victim had on a shirt, shorts, underpants, and no shoes. Forced entry was not apparent. Blood was found in several rooms. Her boyfriend was murdered in December 1993 in Washington County. He had been beaten and stabbed. "

 

[Aner79]

I've been interested in this case for several months now. During research conducted to potentially create a Podcast, I was guided to Ms. Day's case as a result of looking into the murder of her boyfriend, William "Frank" Swain. Two individuals, Leroy Spruill and Brandon Jones, were convicted and sentenced for Swain's murder, and (unsuccessfully) appealed their convictions through the NC Center on Actual Innocence. A complete PDF file of this appeal is available to the public. I've been working my way through it and have found many things within that raised eyebrows, if not full-blown suspicion.

There is essentially no information on Ms. Day, at least not that I've been able to locate. No picture, no news articles, no updates on her murder. I'm not sure what it is within myself that makes me feel compelled to delve deeper for her, but it gives me an incredible heartache knowing that this woman has been forgotten. If anyone has any insights to offer, I will be here and I am eager to hear you.

 

[Rs123]

I've been interested in this case for several months now. During research conducted to potentially create a Podcast, I was guided to Ms. Day's case as a result of looking into the murder of her boyfriend, William "Frank" Swain. Two individuals, Leroy Spruill and Brandon Jones, were convicted and sentenced for Swain's murder, and (unsuccessfully) appealed their convictions through the NC Center on Actual Innocence. A complete PDF file of this appeal is available to the public. I've been working my way through it and have found many things within that raised eyebrows, if not full-blown suspicion.

There is essentially no information on Ms. Day, at least not that I've been able to locate. No picture, no news articles, no updates on her murder. I'm not sure what it is within myself that makes me feel compelled to delve deeper for her, but it gives me an incredible heartache knowing that this woman has been forgotten. If anyone has any insights to offer, I will be here and I am eager to hear you.

Matt Day - Quora

 

[MimosaMornings]

Brandon Jones and Leroy Spruill – North Carolina Center on Actual Innocence

 

[Sherlock1842]

Brandon Jones and Leroy Spruill – North Carolina Center on Actual Innocence

I reviewed the online filings and I can see why there are questions about Leroy Spruill’s guilt. I think it’s possible that Leroy knows who killed Sonja.

 

[Sherlock1842]

Matt Day - Quora

Matt posted his story on Reddit last year asking for help, and I reached out to him but never received a response. I reached out again on Quora and offered to help him but again no response. So I’m not sure if he found someone to help him or maybe decided not to pursue it for whatever reason. I do hope he finds the answers he needs for closure.

 

[Sunniislam]

I've been interested in this case for several months now. During research conducted to potentially create a Podcast, I was guided to Ms. Day's case as a result of looking into the murder of her boyfriend, William "Frank" Swain. Two individuals, Leroy Spruill and Brandon Jones, were convicted and sentenced for Swain's murder, and (unsuccessfully) appealed their convictions through the NC Center on Actual Innocence. A complete PDF file of this appeal is available to the public. I've been working my way through it and have found many things within that raised eyebrows, if not full-blown suspicion.

There is essentially no information on Ms. Day, at least not that I've been able to locate. No picture, no news articles, no updates on her murder. I'm not sure what it is within myself that makes me feel compelled to delve deeper for her, but it gives me an incredible heartache knowing that this woman has been forgotten. If anyone has any insights to offer, I will be here and I am eager to hear you.

I’m Matthew Day. Sonja was my mother. Feel free to contact me. Will be happy to prrovide any information I can on the subject.

 

[Sunniislam]

Matt posted his story on Reddit last year asking for help, and I reached out to him but never received a response. I reached out again on Quora and offered to help him but again no response. So I’m not sure if he found someone to help him or maybe decided not to pursue it for whatever reason. I do hope he finds the answers he needs for closure.

This is Matthew. Please contact me.

 

[Sunshine02]

I’m Matthew Day. Sonja was my mother. Feel free to contact me. Will be happy to prrovide any information I can on the subject.

Matt! I went to school with you. PM me if you get this. I’ve been studying Leroy’s case and your moms too. I hope you are well.

 

[DS2021]

Bump

 

[Sherlock1842]

Bumping for Matthew. We wont forget your mom.

 

[rob525]

So is Spruill Sonja's middle name? At first I read it as if she was related to Leroy Spruill .

 

[Sherlock1842]

So is Spruill Sonja's middle name? At first I read it as if she was related to Leroy Spruill .

Cousin, I believe. Leroy was convicted of killing her fiancee Frank then was freed decades later.

Brandon Jones and Leroy Spruill – Freedom, but no Justice – North Carolina Center on Actual Innocence

“Nine months after Frank’s death, on September 26, 1994, Sonja Day, Frank’s fiancée who was incarcerated when he was murdered, was found murdered in her apartment. Her throat was slashed in a similar manner to Frank’s.”

Below is the link to Matthew’s story on Reddit. It is haunting. I submitted it to True Crime Garage to try to get some publicity but never heard back.

https://www.reddit.com/r/coldcases/comments/kaik4l/mother_saved_my_life

 

[Sherlock1842]

NCSBI - Unsolved Homicides

www.ncsbi.gov

With breaks coming out in Asha Degree’s cold case recently, I really do think this case can be solved.

 

[rob525]

The article from The North Carolina Innocence site states that the friend of Leroy Spruill was convicted of both the murder of Sonja and that of her fiancé. I wonder what the hypothesis was regarding motive. I would have imagined that there was some evidence in the Frank Swain murder that implicated the two friends beyond just the testimony of Dana Maybin. However, what evidence did they have to convict Brandon Jones in the murder of Sonja?

"Nine months after Frank’s death, on September 26, 1994, Sonja Day, Frank’s fiancée who was incarcerated when he was murdered, was found murdered in her apartment. Her throat was slashed in a similar manner to Frank’s. Brandon was in Tennessee when Sonja was killed, and Leroy was never a suspect. Her murder remains unsolved and the Center believes the two cases are connected.

On September 29, 1995, a jury found Brandon guilty of both crimes sentencing him to life plus 40 years. After Brandon was found guilty, and with the State still considering the death penalty, Leroy’s attorneys advised him to take a deal. On October 5, 1995, Leroy accepted an Alford plea, maintaining his innocence, and was also sentenced to life plus 40 years."

 

[Sherlock1842]

That article does state that Brandon Jones was convicted of “both crimes” seeming to refer to both murders but I do know that no one has been arrested or tried for anything related to Sonja Day’s murder.

 

[rob525]

That article does state that Brandon Jones was convicted of “both crimes” seeming to refer to both murders but I do know that no one has been arrested or tried for anything related to Sonja Day’s murder.

The article must be referring to some other crime in connection with the Frank Swain Murder.

 

[Sherlock1842]

Unless evidence was collected at the time that could be tested for dna, it likely cannot be solved unless someone finally comes forward with information.