The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office has announced a major development in a double murder case that has been a major concern to the community for more than ten years.
The body of 53-year-old Vicky Purdy was found in a burned-out car in the 800 block of Philpott Road in Franklin County, close to the border with Henry County, on October 6, 2013. She had been missing for three days. The results of the autopsy showed that Vicky had been shot in the head, which means she was killed.
On December 5, 2013, the body of 54-year-old Ricky Dodson was found in the woods on Johnson Hill Road, about a mile away from where Vicky Purdy’s car and body were found. It was also decided that the death was caused by murder.
Eleven years later, someone has been caught in connection with this double murder.
Daniel Elwood Duncan, 43, of North Carolina, was arrested on October 4, 2024, and charged with two counts of murder and two counts of using or showing a firearm while committing a felony. Duncan, who is Ricky Dodson’s nephew, has been a person of interest in the case since the beginning.
“This arrest is the result of hours and hours of hard work by our investigations team and everyone else who never gave up on this case.” In a statement, the Sheriff’s Office said, “We hope that this brings some closure and peace to the families of the victims, who have been through an unimaginable loss for so long.”
“We know that an arrest can’t take away the pain and heartache that the families of the victims are going through, but we hope that this progress in the case will bring justice and closure.” The families should know how much the Office of the Sheriff appreciates their trust and patience during this long probe.
The Sheriff’s office says that Mr. Duncan will stay in jail in North Carolina until he can be sent back to Franklin County through transfer. The case is still going on until more court hearings happen.