Couple plead guilty to killing woman in N.C. over beer

By Shawna Morrison 

A couple who were found with a body in the back of their van during a traffic stop in Wythe County pleaded guilty to murder charges Wednesday in a North Carolina courtroom.

Jerry Wayne Damron and Lisa Church Damron apparently killed their friend, Kelley Culley, because she drank Jerry Damron's Icehouse beer rather than her own Bud Light, said Alexander County, N.C., Assistant District Attorney Jason Parker on Thursday.

Jerry Damron, 44, pleaded guilty to a charge of first-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole, an official with Alexander County Superior Court said.

Lisa Damron, 32, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. She was sentenced to a minimum of 12 years in prison and a maximum of 15 years and two months, a court official said. She will receive credit for the time she has already served since her arrest in July 2009.

The Damrons, of Taylorsville, N.C., killed 42-year-old Culley during an argument, Taylorsville police have said.

They were caught with her body when a Wythe County deputy pulled over their van the morning of July 9, 2009, for speeding 85 mph in a 65 mph zone on northbound Interstate 77 near mile marker 30, two miles from the exit ramp onto Interstate 81.

The Damrons were under the influence of alcohol, Wythe County Sheriff Doug King said, and placed under arrest.

Deputy Chris Coleman planned to have the van towed and was taking its inventory when he found Culley's body wrapped in a blanket. She had been shot six times, Parker said.

One pistol was found on Jerry Damron; two others were in the van, King said.

Parker said Lisa Damron gave several versions of the events that led to Culley's killing, including telling police it happened after Culley drank Jerry Damron's beer.

Everyone involved was intoxicated at the time, Parker said. Culley's blood-alcohol content was 0.30 percent.

He said the Damrons taped Culley's hands together before putting her in the van and shooting her. They were headed to West Virginia to attempt to dispose of her body when they were pulled over, he said.

Jerry and Lisa Damron had faced several charges in Wythe County, including transporting a dead body, but those charges were dropped after the more serious charges were filed in North Carolina.