Man charged with murder, accused of dumping body in Cape Fear River

BLADEN COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — A North Carolina man has been charged with first degree murder. He reportedly dumped a body into the Cape Fear River following a fight last week in Bladen County.

41-year-old Jim Goins, of Durham, was arrested on Tuesday.

Kenneth Ross Covell (Photo: Bladen County Sheriff’s Office)

The United States Marshal’s Service assisted with Goins’ arrest in Raleigh and Goins was returned to the Bladen County Detention Center where he is under no bond awaiting a first appearance.

The sheriff’s office says Goins is charged with killing Kenneth Ross Covell, also of Durham, during an altercation that happened early on August 18 in the East Arcadia area.

Bladen deputies say Goins dumped Covell’s body in the Cape Fear River. The body was recovered over the weekend.

The sheriff’s office say the victim and suspect knew each other and shared an address. Sheriff Jim McVicker said in a news conference that he believe it’s a halfway house.

McVicker says just because someone has been arrested does not mean the case is closed.

“You know, we don’t stop when we make one arrest,” McVicker said. “I’m sure we’ll interview numerous more people in that area and I’d be afraid to say now what my thoughts are as far as anybody else being involved.”

He says the victim was a twin and the family was expectedly distraught when they heard of his death.

Details of the cause of death are pending with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiners Office in Raleigh.