WINSTON-SALEM, NC – A 78-year-old North Carolina man faces two counts of first-degree murder after authorities discovered the bodies of two family members inside his home Friday morning, according to the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office.
Stephen Curtis Hicks was taken into custody following a welfare check at approximately 10:30 a.m. Friday. Deputies responded to the residence after a family member reported receiving a text message from Hicks indicating he had harmed members of his family.
When deputies arrived at the scene, no one answered the door. Officers located an unlocked entrance and entered the home, where they discovered the bodies of 76-year-old June Hicks and 45-year-old Stephen Eric Hicks.
Authorities found Stephen Curtis Hicks inside the residence suffering from minor, self-inflicted injuries. He was immediately taken into custody without incident and transported for medical evaluation before being booked into jail.
Hicks has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder. He is scheduled to make his initial court appearance on October 20.
The Sheriff’s Office has not released information regarding how the victims were related to the suspect or details about the circumstances surrounding their deaths. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to piece together the events that led to the tragic discovery.
No further information was available at press time, including the cause of death for the two victims or a potential motive for the alleged killings.
