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Neighbors discuss couple facing murder charges

Robert C. Reed | Hickory Daily Record

Maria Rodriguez and Victor Sotelo look toward the home surrounded by crime scene tape where Jerry Wayne Damron and his wife, Lisa Church Damron, live in Taylorsville.

By Richard Gould | Hickory Daily Record

Published: July 11, 2009

TAYLORSVILLE - A Taylorsville man charged with murdering a woman and transporting her corpse to Virginia scared one neighbor and gave another "the creeps."

Details in the investigation of Jerry and Lisa Damron were revealed by authorities about the events leading to the couple's arrest on Interstate 77 in Wythe County, Va.

Sheriff's deputies stopped the van Thursday morning and charged Lisa Church Damron, 31, of 373 Sixth St., SW, Taylorsville, with driving under the influence. Her husband, Jerry Wayne Damron, 42, also was arrested.

They now face first-degree murder charges in Alexander County. In Wythe County, the Damrons face charges of felony transporting a dead body with malicious intent to prevent detection of an unlawful act.

Lisa Damron was charged with DUI and reckless driving.

Jerry Damron was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, three charges of having a concealed weapon, and a count of felony assault on a police officer that occurred while he was being jailed.

The Damrons are being held without bond.

During the traffic stop, deputies saw a large red and brown stain on the back seat and discovered a woman's body in the van's cargo area. Police said she had been shot multiple times. She was later identified as Kelly Ross Lynette Culley, 42, of Taylorsville.

Investigators learned Friday that Culley was killed in the Damrons' home early Thursday morning, according to a statement released by Detective Sgt. Lisa Johnson of the Taylorsville Police Department.

According to a statement accompanying the warrant, Virginia investigators questioned Lisa Damron after her arrest and she identified the dead woman.

She said Culley had been dropped off at the Damrons' home in the early morning hours Thursday and got into an argument with her husband, authorities said.

Investigators have not said what sparked the argument.

Lisa Damron said she went outside when her husband and Culley began pushing each other.

"She then heard between three and four shots from a gun," according to the search warrant. "When she went back into the house, Jerry told her Kelly was dead and they needed to get rid of the body in West Virginia," according to Lisa Damron's statement.

The Damrons then wrapped Culley's body in a blanket and loaded it into the green 2002 Ford Windstar and headed north, according to the search warrant. The couple managed to drive 100 miles north on I-77 toward West Virginia before they were stopped by deputies for driving 85 mph and erratically, according to Virginia authorities.

During the search of the couple's Taylorsville home, investigators found blood stains throughout the house and took samples from the rug, walls, ceiling and furniture for evidence, according to the warrant.

They also confiscated two safes from the home, but their contents have not been released.

The Damrons had strained relationships with some of their neighbors.

Valerie Weathers has lived next door to the couple for about a month and had some friction with the couple, especially Jerry Damron.

Weathers said one of the reasons she chose to live there is that it had a concrete driveway and a basketball hoop where her sons could play.

But the Damrons complained about the noise, saying it was keeping them awake even when the teens played basketball in the afternoon, she said. It got to the point that Weathers refused to let her children play outside if the Damrons were at home.

"He just scared me," she said.

One day Jerry Damron showed Weathers photos of his children. He said they had been taken away by the Department of Social Services after a September crash that killed his 8-year-old son.

He told her he had been charged with the crime, but claimed another driver had caused the wreck.

Jerry Damron is charged with felony death by vehicle, DWI and careless and reckless driving in that incident.

Maria Rodriguez lives down the street from the Damrons and she is relieved they are in jail.

"He gave me the creeps," she said. "He's not right in the head."

She also knew the victim.

"She didn't deserve that," Rodriguez said. "Nobody should have that done to them."

Sgt. Brian Golden of the New Valley Regional Jail, where the couple is being held in Virginia said: "They'll have to face their charges in Virginia before they're extradited back to North Carolina."