Suspect Pleads Guilty in Haddock Murder
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After first changing his mind about accepting a plea deal last month, Michael Graham Currie on Tuesday pleaded guilty to the murder of a 12-year-old girl in 2007.
Currie's original agreement fell apart when he appeared to change his mind about pleading guilty to first-degree murder at a June 3 hearing.
At the same hearing, Sherrod Nicholas Harrison pleaded guilty to a lesser charge - being an accessory after the fact to first-degree murder - in return for his testimony against the other suspects.
According to statements made that day in court, Currie was the man who shot and killed Emily Haddock on Sept. 11, 2007. The seventh-grader was home sick from school that day when intruders broke in through the door of her home on Marks Road outside Vass and shot her several times with a .22-caliber handgun.
Originally, both Currie and Sherrod Nicholas Harrison were facing capital trial for first-degree murder, meaning they could have been sentenced to death if they were convicted.
The state agreed to Harrison's pleading guilty to the lesser charge. Separately, Currie's attorneys had a deal under which their client would plead guilty to murder and receive a sentence of life without possibility of parole. District Attorney Maureen Krueger had agreed to that plea as well.
Members of Haddock's family endorsed the plea deals because they did not want to endure a long trial, according to Krueger.
"The family is happy that the person who actually shot their daughter is taking responsibility by confessing and spending the rest of his life in prison," Krueger said Tuesday
The terms of the new plea arrangement were not available at press time, but Currie is expected to cooperate with investigators and make a comprehensive statement about the events of the day Haddock died. He was not sentenced at this hearing. Sentencing is to take place next week.
Harrison was sentenced to serve 93 to 121 months in state prison, that time to run concurrently with his present sentences. He would get credit for time served awaiting trial since his arrest in the fall of 2007 - reducing his time in prison to about seven years. He entered what is called an Alford plea, meaning he didn't admit actual guilt but took the agreement as being in his interest.
Currie's trial was to begin next week.
Three other suspects - Ryan Jermar White, 18, of Sanford; Van Roger Smith Jr., 16; and Perry Ross Schiro, 19, both of Cameron - have also been charged in the case, but none of them face the death penalty.
At the June hearing, Krueger said the five defendants had made a number of conflicting statements. Investigators had a tough task matching their statements with physical evidence as well as to each other, she said.
Krueger described the suspects' method as knocking on doors pretending to be lost and looking for directions. If nobody answered, they would break the door and go in looking for weapons and other valuables, she said.
The girl had spoken with her mother a couple of times that morning, unhappy to have to spend a boring day out of school, according to court statements. She was in a back room, putting together a puzzle on the floor when she heard the intruders coming in. She apparently tried to hide in a bathroom and was in the doorway when she was shot.
More details of that day may be available after sentencing.
Contact John Chappell at jfchappell@thepilot.com.
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Comments
GeorgiaMan 2 years, 9 months ago
If there is ever a case for the Death Penalty this is it. Take this maggot to trial and I will personally stick the needle in his arm.
These murderers could have left that girl alone and gone their own way. Instead they brutally killed her and left her for dead. A 12 year old girl.
I have a better idea - Make an announcement that all involved will be set free in the town square of Carthage at Noon on a Tuesday. Have each of these animals lined up and say if you can make it to the County line then you are free. Then drop the flag and pull all police back. These maniacs would not make it past the courthhouse steps.
Our district attorney needs to be more courageous and send these animals to Death Row - Life in prison does not always mean life. Laws can change in the future. Lets strap them to a gurney and pump them full of death.
luckygrammy 2 years, 9 months ago
For the family’s benefit I agree with the plea deal. The last thing they need to do is sit and listen in very graphic detail to of their child’s death. To know the information is bad enough. But to sit and hear it repeated over and over and see photos projected on a screen. Nope. If I was the family I would settle for life. God Bless this family. You have had to go through so much, my heart and prayers go out to you.
TheNeedle 2 years, 9 months ago
GeorgiaMan, I guess you missed this part:
"Members of Haddock’s family endorsed the plea deals because they did not want to endure a long trial."
Or are you really so arrogant that you'd ignore the wishes of this girl's family just so you could satisfy your own blood lust?
For shame, sir. For shame.
OBXNC 2 years, 9 months ago
Needle, It's not right to be able to "plea" out of murder. This is not a game show, it's real! We are fighting a losing battle against violent crime because our laws are weak like our society. All it amounts to is a game played by lawyers, and that the citizens end up paying for the life of the criminal rotting in prison. Don't forget some lawyer will benefit the whole time he serves in prision, and at the state of NC,s cost. You want to cut down on crime, make it a terrible choice to commit one to start with, because of the tough, and in some cases fatal conseqences. I'm really sorry for this families loss, and I hope we can pass some tougher conseqences in our laws, so it won't have to happen to another family.
camesh 2 years, 9 months ago
Maggots "mother" can visit her child in prison!! Know shes proud!
TheNeedle 2 years, 9 months ago
So to the devil with the family's wishes, then? Let them suffer through the capital trial they didn't want because of what you think they should do? Who appointed you lord over them?
RmeMP 2 years, 9 months ago
who says the family has to attend the trial? i feel bad for them - i sincerly do; but, they are not the prosecuters the state is, and they do not have to attend the trial if they choose not to.
what about the "suffering" that we as tax payers must dole out to these wastes of life while they wilt away for the next 30 years? did you know there are currently over 140,000 inmates serving life behind bars - at a cost of nearly $50,000.00 per "waste" per year = $7,000,000,000.00 PER YEAR!!! take that number and multiply it by 30-40 years and the number you come up with is unfathanable... cost of 140,000 gas chamber pills = ALOT LESS!
ps - i hope these worthless thugs burn in hell, and until then suffer at the hands of the cellmates ;)
JohnChappell 2 years, 9 months ago
Let's wait to see what comes out next week at the sentencing. The plea on Tuesday is only part of the story.
theonewithsense 2 years, 9 months ago
Child murderers don't have much fun in prison, especially small young child murderers. He will live a miserable existence before dieing in prison. Nobody in prison will stick up for him. His only hope will be to be placed in protective custody. Hopefully, he will be placed in general population and be forced to fight for his life every day.
GeorgiaMan 2 years, 9 months ago
I proudly stand by my comments - I have told my family if anything would happen to them like this I would settle the debt myself - I am a patient and planning man, If someone like this hurt my family even sleeping with One eye open is not going to help. The bloodthirsty one here are the animals who pointed a gun at a frightened little 12 year old girl and pulled the trigger. There is no remorse for people like that, there is no compassion for animals like that. When you find a sick animal you put them down. Not in a prison cell that has to be paid for everyday by the state. Whoever will ever run against Maureen Krueger will have my support and my vote. Too many deals are being made and not enough justice.
None 2 years, 9 months ago
Pay per view anyone? Texas style.
buddysmith 2 years, 9 months ago
i agree with rmemp, why does the familiy have to go to the trial? these animals should be given the death penalty, the da has other thugs in the group of gangstas going to testify against the shooter. why the plea deal? I dont understand this? I also dont want to spend the next 70 years using my tax dollars to make this animal comfortable. remember, if he a baby daddy we have to support his kids with our tax dollars also while he is incarcerated. on the other hand, until the state starts executing animals again why give them the death penalty? cruel and inhumane punishment, lethal injection??? right??? again my heart aches for this family, i cannot imagine what they have gone through!
recondo 2 years, 9 months ago
Boo Hoo Hoo the death penelty is cruel and inhumane seems to be the path the state of north carolina has been going down lately.... not one of those anti death penelty advocates would think the same way if it was their child or loved one that had been the victim. I continue to support the family and understand the mental anquish a long drawn out trial would have caused, personally i feel lethel injection would have been too good for all of the little rats involved. Maybe one of their fellow inmates will take care of them for us. I Think the moore county District attys office runs from capital cases at the drop of a hat and it is time to find a DA And some ADA's With a little backbone
SANDHILLSK9 2 years, 9 months ago
AMEN TODA
dustyrhoades 2 years, 9 months ago
"i agree with rmemp, why does the familiy have to go to the trial?"
"again my heart aches for this family, i cannot imagine what they have gone through!"
????????
None 2 years, 9 months ago
A life for a life. It took 12 long years and millions of taxpayer's money to house, feed, provide medical care, and way too many appeals and hearings to finally sick a needle in David Junior Browns arm for the vicious murder of Diane and her 7 year old daughter, Shelly Chalfinch.
Those criminals who commit murder should have their lives taken away within hours of their conviction when there is absolutely no question of guilt. That would free up space for less violent criminals to serve their sentences. Murders in our society have a right to live out their lives when their victums had no choice....
OldSpook 2 years, 9 months ago
Careful Toda, you’re talking sense again! But then again, I think Judge Roy Bean (legend) was a touch liberal for my taste.
None 2 years, 9 months ago
Horse theives didn't stand a chance in front of the "hang'n judge". As an animal advocate, I've always said, "I know some people who need kill'n but never a defenseless animal." My priest thinks I have a tendency to go overboard at times....
buddysmith 2 years, 9 months ago
read it dusty, then if you still have a question????????, respond, the family does not have to go to the trial or even follow it, this case is between the animals and the quick to plea bargain DA now, the family of this little girl can go on with their lives and mourn, as i would somehow, and let the court system screw up the justice. how about that new law the governor is supporting to look at death penalty cases and racial bias? one question-are they guilty? if they were convicted by a jury of their peers, we now have to look at what race the jury was? more money for the lawyers, appeals, new trials, and the lawyers get richer, and richer!!!!
RmeMP 2 years, 9 months ago
@buddysmith-
you'll have to excuse dusty...remember he is a defense attorney - he makes his living (a portion of it) seeking these types of deals!!!
i understand that every defendant deserves an attorney, but that doesn't mean every attorney should seek a plea deal (IMHO). what's worse, is that not every judge should ACCEPT a plea deal. plea deals are meant to be had when their is a possiblity of a non-conviction; exactly what part of this case does anyone think wasn't open and shut against this defendant - especially since they already coped a deal with one of the other defendants to testify against this one?!
AAARGGGHHHH <-----frustration with the judicial system!!!
buddysmith 2 years, 9 months ago
I always thought Dusty was a professional wrestler RmeMP?? But that explains alot! Thanks