Trial set to begin in 2017 death of 5-year-old Paitin Fields

Pender County, NC (WWAY) — Jury selection is expected to begin Monday in the trial of a man accused in the 2017 death of his 5-year-old niece in Pender County.

David Wesley Prevatte is accused of killing Paitin Fields, who was found unresponsive inside her Pender County home in November 2017. She died three days later.

Prevatte was identified as a suspect in 2018 but was not arrested until 2022.

He faces charges of first-degree murder, first-degree statutory rape of a child by an adult and first-degree sex offense with a child by an adult.

WWAY spoke with family law attorney Brandon Pettijohn for an outside legal perspective on what could come into play during the trial. Pettijohn said prosecutors will have to prove the defendant committed the crime and that DNA evidence could play a role in the case.

“The defense is likely going to try and point out that the identity of the perpetrator has not been identified, and that maybe DNA evidence does not link the defendant to the crime,” Pettijohn said.

If convicted, Prevatte faces either the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The trial will begin at at 10:00 a.m. at the Pender County Courthouse Annex.

For previous coverage of the case, click here.