Details

At around 8 p.m. Tuesday evening on November 18, 1997 co-workers James L. Smith, IV (pictured) and John P. Mattmiller were brutally murdered at the Woodson Music/Friendly Pawn located off US 70 in the Slocum Village Shopping Centre on Park Lane in Havelock, North Carolina.

It is understood that a person or persons entered the store, overpowered the two men, bound and gagged them and then proceeded to beat them to death with golf clubs. The store was robbed and main items missing were handguns and jewellery. The locked video tape box was broken into and the tape was removed.

**Both men were found face down. Mr. Mattmiller suffered numerous lacerations to the back and side of his head. One blow caused a four-inch cut that resulted in brain haemorrhaging. Mr. Smith was afflicted with similar wounds. The two men suffered several skull fractures.**

Mr. Smith was found with a necktie around the left wrist. Another necktie was used to restrain his feet. Mr. Mattmiller`s hands were tied behind his back with a necktie and his legs were bound with another one.

"A double homicide is extremely unusual in a small town like Havelock," James` mother, Dorothy Smith told __CrimeNet__. "While we have received a great deal of support from the public and hundreds of leads have been called in, we are requesting your continued assistance."

Reward information

A reward of $25,000 is being offered for information relating to this crime.