Crime

A death penalty case in Brunswick County ended today before it began. Carl Alston, charged with the kidnapping, rape and murder of of a Leland mother more than four years ago pleaded guilty after four days of jury selection.

Full story...

The FBI on Friday confirmed that Istvan A. Merchenthaler, 42, was in custody. He faces charges in connection with a Ponzi scheme that officials say defrauded $2 million from investors over seven years, according to media reports in Pennsylvania.

Full story...

Less than a year after President Barack Obama approved a piece of sweeping highway legislation, the U.S. Department of Transportation has penalized 33 states, North Carolina among them, for failing to comply with mandates aimed at curbing drunken driving. Full story...

There are still a lot of questions about who did what during a Wilmington Police prostitution sting last year that led to changes in the department yesterday. There could be more answers if Wilmington's top cop would ask a question of city council. Full story...

The Onslow County Sheriff's Office said the crash resulted in a fatality; however, bullet holes were found on the driver's door and front left fender of the vehicle. Full story...

One person is dead after a shooting last night in Columbus County. Investigators say it happened at about 6:15 p.m. at the intersection of Golf Course Rd. and Union Valley Rd. located northwest of Whiteville. Full story...

Detectives are investigating after a woman was robbed in her own front yard in a New Hanover County neighborhood early Tuesday. Full story...

Wilmington Police say they've caught who they believe is a serial robber. Police arrested Erik Greyson Huggins, 29, early this morning for the robbery of a taxi driver at knifepoint on Eastwood Road. Full story...

Southport's police chief is speaking out after one of his employees was arrested over the weekend. Last week the Brunswick County Sheriffs Office received a complaint about Anthony Buntyn, a clerk for the Southport Police Department. Saturday deputies arrested Buntyn and charged him with disseminating obscenity and impersonating a police officer. Full story...

A death penalty case is underway for a man accused of raping, killing and setting a mother of two on fire in 2008. A couple hundred potential jurors filed in to the Brunswick County Courthouse today for the trial of Carl Alston. Full story...

A teacher at Snipes Academy of Arts & Design was arrested for DWI and speeding Sunday according to police reports. Records show Wilmington Police arrested Olivia Grace Williams, 30, around 2 a.m. Sunday at 1180 Market Street. Full story...

A Brunswick County family is looking for help finding a teenage girl missing for nearly two years. Rachel Natacha Owens was last seen on the morning of May 5, 2011, getting off her school bus at school in Boiling Spring Lakes and getting into a small dark color car. Investigators say the car may have had a South Carolina tag. Full story...

An employee of the Southport Police Department was arrested early Saturday morning for allegedly impersonating an officer. Full story...

A registered sex offender is back in jail charged with sex crimes against a child two decades ago. The Pender County Sheriff's Office arrested Barry Gene Gurganious, 42, of Currie Tuesday for two counts of first degree statutory sexual offense and two counts of indecent liberties with a child. Full story...

Community leaders in New Hanover County are ready to take a stand against the school shootings. Full story...