Bladen County woman sentenced in 2021 double murder

BLADEN COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — A Bladen County woman will spend up to 50 years in prison for the 2021 murder of two people, including her stepmother.

Nona Strickland pleaded guilty to two counts of second degree murder in the deaths of Robbie Hildreth and Sean Burke.

Strickland and another woman, Keyonte Poole, lived with the victims in the home on Cribb Road, off US 701 south of Elizabethtown, just outside of Clarkton.

Members of the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office were called to the home by members of the Bladen County Sheriff’s Department of Social Services. The social workers were at the
home on April 8th, 2021 to follow up with Hildreth about her adopted stepdaughter, Nona Strickland. Investigators found that Burke died of blunt force trauma to the head, while Hildreth was determined to have died by suffocation.

Investigators learned that Poole and Strickland had stolen Hildreth’s vehicle and were using the victims’ EBT cards at multiple convenience and grocery stores leading to the Richmond, VA area.

Strickland and Poole were located in Pink Hill, NC. During a chase, the suspects ended up in a fiery crash. Poole and Strickland were treated by EMS, then a hospital before their arrest.

Keyonte Poole (Photo: Bladen County District Attorney’s Office)

During the sentencing hearing, members of the family expressed their desire for Strickland to be held accountable for her actions. Strickland also read letters to the Court expressing regret.

Judge C. Ashely Gore ultimately sentenced Strickland to up to 50 years. Co-defendant Poole was previously sentenced up to 50 years in prison for her role in the murders.