“Six Weeks on the Run — Captured Alive”

Dominick Connelley, the man accused of killing his grandmother and stabbing a sheriff’s deputy, has been captured alive after nearly six weeks on the run. Deputies found him yesterday inside an abandoned cabin near Muddy Lane in Vanceboro, ending one of the most intense manhunts Eastern North Carolina has seen in years.

Authorities say Connelley murdered 72-year-old Patricia Lopedote in Havelock on October 25, then set her house on fire. Just four days later, he allegedly stabbed a Craven County deputy during a confrontation in Vanceboro and disappeared into the woods.

The search stretched across more than 1,000 acres, with SBI K-9 units, helicopters, and local law enforcement working around the clock. A $10,000 reward was offered for information, and sightings trickled in from rural areas, but Connelley remained elusive—until yesterday.

He was taken by ambulance to Carolina East Hospital for treatment. Tonight, he faces charges of murder, arson, and attempted murder of a law enforcement officer.

The community breathes easier tonight, but the legal battle for justice in the murder of Patricia Lopedote is only beginning.

Prayers up for all involved and a big thank you to all the law enforcement that played a role in bringing him in alive.

Author: Quarla Blackwell