Son Of Elderly North Carolina Man Whose Body Was Found In Toolbox Arrested For Murder, Sheriff Says

A North Carolina man is accused of killing his father and hiding the body in a toolbox, authorities said.

The Iredell County Sheriff’s Office arrested Anthony Ryan Sharpe, 31, on Dec. 9 and charged him with murder of 70-year-old Earnest Carter Sharpe Jr., Iredell Free News reported.

On Dec. 1, the victim’s family reported him missing and an investigation was launched.

According to Sheriff Darren Campbell, in the evening, detectives located Earnest Sharpe’s body in a toolbox that was behind a home in Troutman.

An autopsy conducted at Atrium Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem determined the victim died from blunt force trauma to the head.

According to the Iredell Free News, the retired school custodian’s wife last saw him on Nov. 22. Investigators believe he was killed around the same day at a separate location and his body was then transported to the family-owned property where it was later found.

“We are investigating multiple crime scenes and have executed multiple search warrants,” Sheriff Campbell said. “Detectives have worked on this case continuously and done a great job following up all leads, which led to this arrest.”

Sharpe was being held without bond at the Iredell County Detention Center.