Man charged in murder of Paitin Fields appears in Pender County court

PENDER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — The man accused of raping and killing his 5-year-old niece appeared in court on Thursday morning.

David Prevatte made his first appearance before Judge Jeffery Noecker at the Pender County Courthouse, after being extradited from Louisiana on Wednesday night.

Prevatte has been charged with first degree murder, first degree statutory rape, and statutory sex offense with child by adult in the murder of Paitin Fields. The child was sexually assaulted and strangled in November of 2017.

Fields lived with her maternal grandmother and sister in a home on Black Water Drive in Willard.  She was found unresponsive in the home and taken to Pender Memorial. She was then transferred to New Hanover Regional Medical Center, where she later died.

Sheriff Alan Cutler was unable to offer details on recent developments in the case, and why Prevatte is now facing charges after being the only suspect in the case since 2018.

“We can’t really discuss the details of the case, but like I said we’re just pleased to get to this stage,” said Alan Cutler, Pender County Sheriff.

Sheriff Cutler says as they continue seek justice for Paitin Fields, he is pleased to see court process has started.

“It has been an ongoing case for a while now, and I am extremely pleased and proud of our personnel with the work that they have put into this case, and we’re just very pleased to get to this point in this case this is basically the first step in a long court process,” said Cutler.

Prevatte is being held with no bond, and his next court appearance is March 16.