Bladen County woman facing up to 50 years in prison for murders

BLADEN COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — A Bladen County woman is facing up to 50 years in prison for two murders.

Keyonte Poole was sentenced to prison (480 months to 600 months) on two counts of Second-Degree Murder for the deaths of Robbie Hildreth and Sean Burke.

Poole plead guilty in an open courtroom before the family and friends of the victims along with members of the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office.

Investigators found that Sean Burke died of blunt force trauma to the head, while Robbie Hildreth was determined to have died by suffocation.

The investigation determined Keyonte Poole and Nona Strickland had stolen the vehicle belonging to Robbie Hildreth. Law enforcement began a search across North Carolina and Virginia for the two suspects.

Investigators were able to follow evidence that the Poole and Strickland were using the victims’ EBT cards and vehicle at multiple convenience and grocery stores leading to the Richmond, Virginia area.

They were located in the area of Pink Hill, North Carolina.

Law enforcement located the vehicle and were involved in a chase that resulted in the suspects vehicle going airborne, landing on a Dodge pickup, and
ultimately bursting into flames. The driver Keyonte Poole was treated by EMS before receiving treatment at a local hospital before being arrested.

The Court heard the arguments of the State and defense counsel during the sentencing hearing. The defendant Keyonte Poole also spoke of her “regret” for her actions to the family before the Court ultimately issued the up to 50-year prison sentence.