Murder trial for convicted killer James Bradley set for January

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — James Bradley will once again face a judge and jury, this time, he faces the death penalty.

The twice convicted killer is charged with murder in the death of Elisha Tucker, a woman whose body was found buried in trash bags in Hampstead.

Tucker’s body was found while investigators were searching for a missing woman, Shannon Rippy Van Newkirk.

Van Newkirk wen missing in April of 2014. She was never found.

A jury found Bradley guilty of her murder over the summer. A judge sentenced Bradley to 30 to 37 years in prison.

Bradley’s attorney filed an appeal in January, claiming Bradley’s trial was overshadowed by the murder of his stepdaughter in 1988. Bradley pleaded guilty to that murder and spent years in prison.

During a court hearing on Wednesday, District Attorney Ben David asked the judge to set an October trial date for Tucker’s murder.

The defense argued that wasn’t realistic.

Instead, the judge set the trial for the week of January 14.