Murder of Eve Carson

Murder of Eve Carson
Eve Marie Carson
Born November 19, 1985(1985-11-19)
Athens, Georgia
Died March 5, 2008(2008-03-05) (aged 22)
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Cause of death Multiple gunshot wounds
Body discovered 35°55′16″N 79°02′07″W / 35.92123°N 79.03522°W / 35.92123; -79.03522
Resting place Athens, Georgia
Monuments Eve Marie Carson Garden
Education Bachelors Degree in Political Science and Biology
Alma mater University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Organization Phi Beta Kappa
Title UNC Student Body President
Term 2007–2008
Board member of UNC Board of Trustees
Parents Bob and Teresa Carson
Awards Morehead-Cain Scholarship, North Carolina Fellow, General Alumni Association of UNC's 2009 Distinguished Young Alumni Award

Eve Marie Carson (November 19, 1985 – March 5, 2008) was a student at the University of North Carolina who was shot and killed on the morning of March 5, 2008, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States. She served as Student Body President and was a recipient of the Morehead-Cain Scholarship. Demario James Atwater, a 21-year-old resident of Durham, North Carolina was charged with her murder,[1] and on May 24, 2010, Atwater pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in a plea bargain agreement that will have him serve life in prison without the possibility of parole.[2] A second suspect, 17-year-old Laurence Alvin Lovette Jr.,[3] was taken into custody early morning March 13, 2008.[4] Later, investigators also connected Lovette to the January 2008 murder of 29-year-old Duke University engineering student Abhijit Mahato.[5]

Contents

Life

Carson was born in Athens, Georgia, on November 19, 1985, where she attended Clarke Central High School.[6] She was elected president of the high school's student body and was valedictorian.[7] While at UNC, Carson majored in Political Science and Biology, in the pre-medicine career path. Her academic achievements earned her membership in the Phi Beta Kappa honor society, and she was a recipient of the Morehead-Cain Scholarship. Outside of class, Carson participated in and led numerous organizations and service projects. She was selected to be a North Carolina Fellow, a four-year leadership development program.

Carson was inaugurated as UNC's student body president in April 2007, and her term was due to expire in April 2008. In her role as student body president, Carson served as a member of the university's board of trustees and many other committees. She was also active as co-president of the Honors Program Student Executive Board and as a member of the Committee on Scholarships, Awards and Student Aide, the Academic Advising Program, the Chancellor Search Committee, the Chancellor’s Committee for University Teaching Awards, and co-chair of UNC's chapter of Nourish International.

Murder

Laurence Alvin Lovette Jr. using Carson's ATM card

Carson's body was found at the intersection of Hillcrest Circle and Hillcrest Drive[8] in Chapel Hill at approximately 5 a.m. on March 5, 2008.[9] Police could not immediately identify the body, but at 9 a.m. on March 6, 2008, police investigators and the office of the medical examiner identified the body as that of Carson.[10] The Chapel Hill Police Chief said that Carson's death appeared to be a random act. Police recovered her car more than a mile away from her body after receiving a tip from a local witness. Police also released images from a security video of a person using Carson's ATM card.[11][12]

Carson was shot several times including a shotgun blast to the head.[13] According to a confidential informant to Chapel Hill police, both Atwater and Lovette shot her.[14] The medical examiner said that Carson had not been sexually assaulted.[15]

Investigation and prosecution

Unusual for North Carolina, records such as the autopsy report and search warrants were sealed from public view in the months after the murder.[16] On June 27, 2008, some information was finally released. Details in six warrants confirm that $1,400 was withdrawn from ATMs using Carson's card over a two-day period after the shooting. They also reveal that Atwater admitted to being the suspect attempting to use the ATM card in a security video taken in a local convenience store and that Lovette was indeed the person pictured in original ATM surveillance photograph.[14] The autopsy report was released on June 30, 2008.[17]

State and Federal charges

On March 12, 2008, first-degree murder charges were filed against 21-year-old Demario James Atwater.[18] His accomplice, 17-year-old Lawrence Alvin Lovette, Jr., was arrested and charged with the same the following day.[19] On July 7, 2008, additional charges of first-degree kidnapping and armed robbery were raised against the two murder suspects, along with felonious larceny and felonious stolen goods. Atwater was also charged with possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of weapon of mass destruction (based on the specifications of the shotgun used in the murder).[20]

In July 2008, federal investigators also brought carjacking charges against Atwater. These charges were of particular significance because carjacking committed during a homicide carries the death penalty. As a result of the Roper v. Simmons ruling, Lovette could not face the death penalty as he was under 18 at the time of the crimes.[20]

Pleas and sentencing

Atwater pleaded guilty to state charges of first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, armed robbery, possession of a firearm by a felon, and possession of a weapon of mass destruction on May 27, 2010. In exchange for his plea, state prosecutors dropped the death penalty, instead sentencing him to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder.[2][21] He was also given a concurrent sentence of 23 to 29 years for the additional charges.[2]

On September 23, 2010, Atwater was sentenced in federal court to life in prison for the murder, a 10-year sentence for discharging a weapon resulting in death, and two additional 10-year sentences to run concurrently for federal carjacking and weapons charges. He was also ordered to undergo substance abuse treatment and to pay restitution of $212,947.10 should he ever be released,[22] which the judge noted is "highly unlikely".[23] His life sentences are to be served consecutively and in federal custody.[24]

After his sentencing, Atwater spoke directly to the Carson family saying, "I'm sorry for for everything that's happened. ... No matter what the court did today, it would be far from anything I should receive."

Atwater is currently serving his life sentence at the United States Penitentiary, Victorville, a high security federal prison in California.[25]

Lovette pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. His state trial is scheduled to begin on November 28, 2011. [26]

Memorial and funeral

Temporary memorial on Polk Place

On March 6, 2008, at 3 p.m., UNC's Chancellor James Moeser spoke to the student body on the central quad, Polk Place, and at 7 p.m. students organized a candlelit vigil in "The Pit", a sunken plaza near the students' union building. The service included singing by three student a cappella groups and a slideshow of photos of Carson.[27] Hundreds of people attended Carson's March 9 funeral in Athens, including Moeser, who said that Carson was "truly a gift to Chapel Hill."[28]

In honor of Carson, the North Carolina men's and women's basketball teams wore a black badge on their jersey that read "EVE" for the remainder of their seasons.[29] On March 8, 2008 before the start of the Carolina–Duke men's basketball game, there was a moment of silence in Eve's honor.[30]

Carson's dual-major Bachelor's Degree was posthumously awarded—for the first time in the University's history—to her surviving family (parents & brother) at the May 2008 UNC graduation ceremony she would have attended had she lived. She was posthumously awarded the General Alumni Association of UNC's 2009 Distinguished Young Alumni Award.[31]

Legacy

To honor her life, the University of North Carolina established the Eve Carson Scholarship, in order to achieve Eve's goal of "reward[ing] students who had grown significantly in the areas of academics, social justice and leadership since their college matriculation".[32]

The case was brought to national attention again in 2009 after American Idol finalist Anoop Desai, who was a good friend of Carson's, talked about the incident on the show and how it motivated him to audition.[33]

On the two year anniversary of her death, UNC dedicated the Eve Marie Carson Garden. One feature of the garden is a wall inscribed with her words: "Learn from every single being, experience, and moment. What joy it is to search for lessons and goodness and enthusiasm in others." [34]

The Pi Beta Phi and Phi Delta Theta chapters of UNC now host the annual Eve Carson Memorial 5K in her honor. The money raised each year goes to the Eve Carson scholarship and First Book, Pi Phi's national philanthropy for literacy. The 2010 race raised over $30,000 and was the largest 5K in Chapel Hill history. The 2011 race is set for November 19, Carson's birthday.

References

  1. ^ AP Staff (March 13, 2008). "UNC slaying suspect charged in Duke killing". Crime and Courts (MSNBC). http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23591462/. Retrieved March 13, 2008. 
  2. ^ a b c Nicole Norfleet (May 25, 2010). "Accused in UNC student's death, man pleads guilty". TheSunNews Online. http://www.thesunnews.com/2010/05/25/1493370/accused-in-unc-students-death.html. Retrieved May 25, 2010. 
  3. ^ Lamb, Amanda; Hartness, Erin; Owens, Gerald (March 12, 2008). "Suspect Charged, Another Sought in UNC Student's Slaying". WRAL-TV. http://wral.com/news/local/story/2561551/. Retrieved March 12, 2008. 
  4. ^ Chou, Renee; Owens, Adam; Lamb, Amanda; Hartness, Erin; Owens, Gerald (March 13, 2008). "Police Capture 2nd Suspect in UNC Student's Slaying". WRAL-TV. http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/2568641/. Retrieved March 12, 2008. 
  5. ^ Chou, Renee; Bowens, Dan; Lewis, Julia; Owens, Adam (March 13, 2008). "UNC Murder Suspect Also Charged in Duke Grad Student's Death". WRAL-TV. http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/2569358/. Retrieved March 13, 2008. 
  6. ^ Floyd, Allison (March , 2008). "Grad's murder shocks Clarke Central". Athens Banner-Herald. http://onlineathens.com/stories/030708/news_2008030700433.shtml. Retrieved May 19, 2008. 
  7. ^ "Top Newsmaker: Eve Carson". Athens Banner-Herald. 2008. http://onlineathens.com/newsmakers/. Retrieved September 6, 2011. 
  8. ^ See map.
  9. ^ DeConto, Jesse James; Stephenson, Emily (2008-03-06). "No suspect yet in Carson slaying". Raleigh, NC: The News & Observer. Archived from the original on April 15, 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080415132838/http://www.newsobserver.com/news/crime_safety/story/985826.html. 
  10. ^ AP/CNN Staff (March 6, 2008). "Thousands mourn slain UNC student; cops search for killer". CNN. Archived from the original on March 10, 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080310234431/http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/03/06/unc.student.killed/. 
  11. ^ AP/CNN Staff (March 8, 2008). "Photos show 'person of interest' in student's slaying". CNN. http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/03/08/student.killed/. Retrieved March 8, 2008. 
  12. ^ AP Staff (March 8, 2008). "Cops release images linked to UNC slaying". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-03-08-student-president-slain_N.htm. Retrieved March 8, 2008. 
  13. ^ Carlson, Kelcey (June 30, 2008). "Multiple gunshots killed Eve Carson". WRAL-TV. http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/3125964/. Retrieved June 30, 2008. 
  14. ^ a b Carlson, Kelcey (June 27, 2008). "Warrants: Both suspects shot Eve Carson". WRAL-TV. http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/3116809/. Retrieved June 2, 2008. 
  15. ^ Gardner, Cynthia (May 7, 2008). "Report of the Autopsy Examination (B200801036)" (PDF). Chapel Hill, NC: State of NC Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. p. 4. http://content.news14.com/pdf/Carson.pdf. Retrieved June 3, 2008. 
  16. ^ Carlsonm Kelcey (May). "Newspaper asks for Eve Carson autopsy results to be released". WRAL-TV. http://www.wral.com/news/news_briefs/story/2870531/. Retrieved June 27, 2008. 
  17. ^ Ullrich, Rachel. "Carson autopsy reveals details". The Daily Tar Heel. http://media.www.dailytarheel.com/media/storage/paper885/news/2008/07/03/City/Carson.Autopsy.Reveals.Details-3387446.shtml. Retrieved July 3, 2008. 
  18. ^ "Murder charges in student slaying". WRDW-TV. March 12, 2008. http://www.wrdw.com/crimeteam12/headlines/16594276.html. Retrieved September 6, 2011. 
  19. ^ "Suspect in UNC killing charged in another student slaying". CNN.com. March 13, 2008. http://articles.cnn.com/2008-03-13/justice/unc.arrest_1_demario-james-atwater-durham-police-chief-brian-curran?_s=PM:CRIME. Retrieved September 6, 2011. 
  20. ^ a b Carlson, Kelcey (July 7, 2008). "Eve Carson murder suspects indicted on additional charges". WRAL-TV. http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/3161089/. Retrieved September 6, 2011. 
  21. ^ Velliquette, Beth (May 24, 2010). "Demario Atwater pleads guilty in Carson slaying". HeraldSun.com. http://www.heraldsun.com/view/full_story/7639864/article-Demario-Atwater-pleads-guilty-in-Carson-slaying. Retrieved September 6, 2001. 
  22. ^ "UNC student's killer sentenced to life in federal prison". WRAL. 2010-09-23. http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/8335032/. Retrieved 2011-09-06. 
  23. ^ Deconto, Jesse James (2010-09-23). "Atwater gets life in prison for Eve Carson murder". http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/09/23/698536/atwater-receives-life-in-prison.html. Retrieved 2011-09-06. 
  24. ^ "UNC student's killer sentenced to life in federal prison". WRAL. 2010-09-23. http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/8335032/. Retrieved 2010-09-23. 
  25. ^ http://www.bop.gov/iloc2/InmateFinderServlet?Transaction=NameSearch&needingMoreList=false&FirstName=demario&Middle=&LastName=atwater&Race=U&Sex=U&Age=&x=0&y=0
  26. ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Murder_of_Eve_Carson&action=edit&section=5
  27. ^ "March 6 Candlelight Vigil for Eve Carson". WRAL-TV. March 18, 2008. http://www.wral.com/news/local/video/2537675/#/vid2537675. Retrieved September 6, 2011. 
  28. ^ AP Staff (March 9, 2008). "Hundreds attend services for slain students". msnbc.com. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23550281. Retrieved September 6, 2011. 
  29. ^ Lopresti, Mike (March). "Tar Heels play on with tragedy on their minds". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/lopresti/2008-03-24-lopresti-unc_N.htm. Retrieved 2008-03-24. 
  30. ^ Bernstein, Viv (March 9, 2008). "North Carolina Pulls Away From Duke". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/09/sports/ncaabasketball/09duke.html?ref=evemcarson. Retrieved 2011-09-07. 
  31. ^ "Three receive Distinguished Young Alumni Awards". UNC News. October 7, 2009. http://uncnews.unc.edu/content/view/2953/107/. Retrieved September 6, 2011. 
  32. ^ "History of Eve Carson Scholarship". University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. http://www.unc.edu/eve/index.php/about/history. Retrieved March 6, 2010. 
  33. ^ Bardsley, Garth (March 6, 2009). "Chapel Hill Student Eve Carson Remembered On 'American Idol'". MTV News. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1606435/20090306/story.jhtml. Retrieved April 19, 2009. 
  34. ^ "Eve Marie Carson Garden dedication set for March 4". University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. February 24, 2010. http://uncnews.unc.edu/content/view/3379/75/. Retrieved March 6, 2010. 

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