Woman charged with death of homeless man

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — A woman is going to prison after being convicted for her involvement in the 2015 killing of a homeless man in Wilmington according to the District Attorney’s Office.

34-year-old Joy Hood of Asheville pleaded guilty to Assault With a Deadly Weapon Inflicting Serious Injury.

On February 1st of last year Hood, Donald Ward, Hood’s co-defendant Stacy Brown, and another man were drinking beer at a homeless camp at the corner of Medical Center Drive and Carolina Beach Road. A verbal altercation led to a physical scuffle. At some point Ward was knocked to the ground losing consciousness.

According to the release, Brown and Hood kicked and punched Ward in the head and body at least 20 times, and covered his body with a tarp and left him to die, according to a news release.

Today Hood was sentenced to between 2 and 3 years in jail.