he is the suspect charged with phurbding melissa huggins jones in 2013. it is an understandably emotional trial. gloria rodriguez is at the wake county justice center and tells us what is next. gloria: good morning to you. testimony will continue today here at the wake county justice center. smith is one of three people that has been charged in the mother. it was a very emotional first day of testimony yesterday. take a look. >> she told me that she tried to wake her mother up and couldn't. she had blood all over the place. gloria: this carpenter remembers when hannah jones came to him for help. was working at the apartment complex where her mother was stab and beaten to death. he was the first witness called to the stand yesterday. he recalled checking on huggins jones. >> she had blood all over her face and as well as everywhere. gloria: three people were breaking into cars in the complex and smith and an accomplice went into huggins jones apartment through an unlocked door. but smith's attorney said anthony killed huggins jones. death penalty and is se

melissa huggins jones was killed during the burglary of her north hills apartment in 2013. now one of the people charged in her murder is on trial. amanda lamb is following this case and joins us with what happened in court this morning. amanda? >> reporter: renee, like you said, this is terrifying. a stranger breaking into your home with a weapon. prosecutors contend this break- in was just one of a series of crimes that the suspect carried out the night she was murdered. several cars were broken into, and at least one other, at the murder. traveon smith says he was breaking into cars that night with his first two codefendants and at first detectives didn't know for sure that the break- ins were definitely connected to the murder of melissa huggins jones but they did suspect that they were. >> the murder was an apartment that was broken into, and the apartment that was broken into, there was another apartment right under under the victim's apartment that was also broken into, and in the immediate area of that were several cars that were broken into. and it all happened on

. >> reporter: that is how melissa huggins jones mothers described her mother in court nearly three years after she was killed in her apartment. >> she had blood on her face and everywhere. >> reporter: a construction worker testified about the morning in may of 2013 when huggins jones 8-year-old daughter found her mom lying in bed in blood and asked for help. he he buried his head in his hands as he told the 911 operator it was too late. the young man on trial for the murder, travion smith sat quietly in court. ronald anthony already pled guilty to first degree murder. sarah redon hasn't yet gone to trial. police say the group was huggins jones was beaten to death and said smith was an murder. >> they are both going to tell that you smith is the person who first hit melissa huggins jones. >> reporter: his defense attorney insists smith is not to blame and was manipulated by his friend ronald anthony. >> anthony who is already serving a life sentence for the murder of huggins jones is the one responsible for her death. >> reporter: this trial is expected to last several weeks. smith could

she did everything she could to have her children in church. >> reporter: that's how melissa huggins jones mother described her daughter in court three years after she was killed in her apartment. blood was everywhere. >> a construction worker at the apartment complex testified about the morning in may of 2013 when her eight-year-old daughter found her mom lying blood covered in bed and came out to ask him for help. he buried his head in his hands as he listened to the 911 call telling the operator it was too late. the young man on trial for the murder, travion smith sat quietly in court. he's one of three charged in the case. ronald anthony pleaded guilty to first-degree murder. sara redden hasn't gone to trial. prosecutors say the group was breaking into cars in the area where huggins jones was beaten to death and says smith was an active participant in the murder. >> they're going to tell you that travion smith is the person who first hit melissa huggins jones. >> his defense attorney insists smith was not to blamed for the >> ronald anthony is serving a life sentence for the murd

a jury sentenced him yesterday for the murder of melissa huggins-jones huggins-jones. smith could have gotten the death penalty. huggins-jones was beaten and coming up in the next half hour hear what huggins-jones's mother said to her daughter's killer. barbara: beyonce' is bringing her tour to raleigh may 3 but will raleigh police officers provide security? law enforcement agencies are upset with her salute to the black opinion they are during the super bowl halftime show. the miami police union approved a boycott there and members of the raleigh police union could do the same. gloria rodriguez has the latest on the story. good morning. gloria: good morning. the raleigh police union will take up the issue. they will vote on whether to boycott working security for beyonce's upcoming concert at carter-finley stadium. look at the performance that has so many people talking. her super bowl performance many premised some but enraged others. she saluted the black panthers jacket with backup dancers. some called it anti police apbdpolice and pro violence. unions in miami, ta

but the defense attorney said anthony killed huggins jones. he pled guilty and is serving life without parole. a prosecutor said the state would prove smooth delivered the first blow. huggins jones's mother took the stand and talked about the impact on hannah. >> just a little girl and a lot of her mama's personality. you can clearly tell she didn't know what was going on with her mama. gloria: very emotional words the trial will last four to six weeks. unwatch in live on abc11.com. we will have it streamed live. barbara: a french company is infected through sex with someone who returned from a country where zika is outbreak. it is usually spread through mosquitos. a doctor at vanderbilt says vaccine would likely be a kill virus similar to the flu shot. john: messages of support flooding the facebook page of clyde cooper's barbecue this morning after our story aired about threats in the wake of a sign posted outside the restaurant. people to stop profiling muslims. owe spoepbts chimed in with one man threatening a boycott. the owner is not bac

melissa huggins-jones found -- melissa huggins-jones' daughter found her dead the next morning. travion smith was one of those small items, items an employee at a nearby restaurant saw on the table -- on their table. >> there were at least one later. it was just sitting there. ed: we know that during the opening statement, a prosecutor told jurors that travion smith did talk about this crime apparently to folks in the jail. we know this is a jailhouse informant. the court will adjourn at 1:00 p.m. this will likely be the last witness. you can join us back at abc11.com on monday morning at 9:30 for the live stream of the trial. john: thanks. disturbing new details about the murder of a 13-year-old girl from virginia. prosecutors say virginia tech nicole of bells murder at a fast place. -- nicole of bells -- nicole lovell's murder. david eisenhauer and natalie keepers are accused of taking extra steps to cover their tracks. lovell is thought to have been trying to expose her relationship with david eisenhauer. barbara: the first transmission ends the growth through sexual contact

he is accused of beating and stabbing melissa huggins jones to death. investigators say he and ronald anthony and sara redden much breaking into cars and they believe smith and anthony killed huggins jones as her daughter was in the next room. the mother had just moved to raleigh. anthony pleaded guilty last year to avoid the death penalty. he was sentenced to life withoutle parole. redden claims she waited in the car as the crime was being committed. according to prosecutors she already changed her story twice. the defense says her most recent story could help them prove >> she said ronald anthony told her he was the one who did all the attacking. >> she never said ronald anthony was the only person who killed him. what she said is that i was not being truthful when i said certain things about what mr. smith said. gloria: the trial is expected to last four to six weeks and we will have the testimony live on abc11.com so tune in there for the latest developments. live in raleigh, gloria rodriguez, abc 11 eyewitness news. barbara: the wake county school

huggins, how long was mr. henderson your boyfriend? >> about 2 1/2 years. >> judge judy: did you live together at any time? >> yes, we did. >> judge judy: from when to when? >> from 2013 to 2015. >> judge judy: when in 2015? >> september. >> judge judy: okay. the incident that you're complaining about happened on what date? >> november 25th. >> judge judy: of 2015? >> yes. >> judge judy: so you were no longer living together but still seeing each other? >> yes.

traveon smith is accused of killing melissa huggins jones in her apartment in 2013. you can watch that streaming live on abc11.com. john: two virginia tech students charged with the murder of a 13 kpwraerld girl made their first court appearances. david eisenhauer is charged with killing nicole lovell and natalie keepers accused of helping him dump the body in north carolina. authorities still haven't revealed a moattive but that they knew each other. students as virginia tech and neither has a criminal record. a north carolina man accused of planning an islamic state inspired attack is charged with killing his neighbor. prosecutors say justin sullivan admitted to taking a rifle from his father's gun cabinet and killing his awaiting trial. his father tipped off the authorities. barbara: the father of a detained oregon militia leader is urging supporters to continue the occupation of a refuge. he asked for the standoff to continue despite calls from his son for supporters to go home. his son was arrested in which the spokesman was shot dead. the older abundancy led a

they focused on the fact that huggins-jones' eight-year-old daughter, hannah, was sleeping just down the hall when the murder happened. she had no idea what would happen to her child as she lay dying. she could not protect her. prosecutors focused on the heinous nature of the crime. 18 blows or stab wounds offer quick easy money, the prosecutor said, murder for an iphone.>> how much hatred do you have to have going through your body to do that to someone? that's why this case calls for penalty. how much hatred does it take to get there?>> travion smith is guilty of first degree murder. travion smith is responsible for first-degree murder. travion smith will be sentenced for first-degree murder. in prison, he will never leave prison. >> defense attorney said the death penalty is reserved for the worst offenders. they maintained that smith is not one of them. the arguments are complete, victory will get instruction from the judge to begin deliberations. of course, the jury took just about an hour to find him guilty of murder. there is no telling how long they will deliberate on the sen

smith is accused and now old mother of two, melissa huggins joans in 2013. the defense tried to convince jurors, another man, ronald anthony was the ring leader. he pleaded guilty to avoid the death penalty. it wasn't enough to convince the jury that smith was also responsible for beating the mother to death. family crieds that verdict was read. smith showed no emotion. the defense did not present evidence, they plan to put on two to three days of evidence and testimony for the sentencing trial. it is set to start at 9:30 this morning. >>> tara lynn live in raleigh on a major murder case. >>> we are working to learn tp name of the victim at the center of a death investigation in raleigh. police found man's body yesterday afternoon. the initial call was for a drowning. a creek and a running trail are nearby. autopsy will determine how the man died. those results should be available in a few days. >>> police are looking for the person who shot a 1-year-old boy. this happened before 3:00 yesterday afternoon on great bend drive. when they arrived on the scene th

. >>> today the huggins-jones murder trial is expected to go to a jury. this after the defense and prosecution both rested friday. the state used the medical examiner as its last witness. at one point huggins-jones's mother put her head down and clutched a tissue. the medical examiner says huggins-jones had 18 different injuries and bled to death during the course of an hour. defense lawyers say smith would not take the stand and they rested without presenting any evidence. >>> an 11-year old girl is in the hospital after being shot at word on that child's condition or identity. we'll keep you updated. >>> durham sheriffs deputies made an arrest in the murder of a man on glenn road. investigators say a 26-year old is facing a first degree murder charge after the body of a 36-year old was found in his backyard stabbed to death. wncn spoke with the suspect's sister. she did not want to give her name or show her face. >> we're all, you know, neighbors, we're all -- we go to the same church. so i don't see how this could have ended up like this. i just don't

we are following other breaking news, there is a verdict in the melissa huggins jones murder trial. she was killed inside of her home, the main suspect facing a possible death sentence. we will listen and when the verdict is red. anna: smith has said that his accomplice, the guy who has pleaded guilty actually killed this mother. we will have to see if the jury believes that or -- he never actually took the stand in his own defense. we will have to see what the jury will believe. joel: dramatic moments in closing arguments today before you can see melissa huggins jones' mother there. her daughter's killer, the man who sits there at the back of your screen waiting for the jury to come back into this justice center court room. anna: when this first happened this rattled -- >> you have indicated you have reached a unanimous verdict. let me ask you to stand. >> is it correct that the jury has reached a unanimous verdict? >> es. >> have you signed and dated the verdict? >> yes. >> madame clerk would you announce the verdict. >> ladies and gentlemen of the jury, your foreperson has return

smith is accused of murdering mother of two, melissa huggins- jones, in 2013. during closing arguments in the case, the defense tried to convince jurors that another man, ronald anthony, was the ringleader and manipulated smith to participate. anthony pleaded guilty last year in order to avoid the death penalty but the argument was not enough to convince the also responsible. family members of melissa huggins-jones cried as the jury read their verdict. smith showed no emotion. the defense did not call any witnesses, nor did they put on any asset -- evidence in the testimony phase but ours expected to do now in the sentencing phase which could take 2 to 3 days. the jury will have to decide to send him to prison without the chance of parole for the rest of his life, or convict him and sent him ultimately to die for his crimes. >> it has been an emotional trial, tara lynn, live in raleigh. >>> a fayettville woman will appear in court accused of stabbing a man to death. monica holt is charged with second degree murder of 67-year- old thomas mcnair. the two were acq

. >> reporter: melissa huggins jones was a newly divorced mother of two, starting a new job at a local bank and a new life in raleigh. >> she was good hearted soul that treated everybody the same. it didn't matter if you had a dollar or a millionaire, she treated everybody the same. >> reporter: the mother took the stand this the trial of travion smith. he is accused of killing huggins jones during a break in at her north hills apartment. >> i saw this child standing at the fence and she had her hands locked in the fence and she was crying. >> reporter: the granddaughter found her mother and ran to nearby construction workers asking for help. they went to the apartment. >> she had blood all over her face. i put two fingers on her wrist and there was no pulse. >> reporter: they called 911 and called wallace to tell her, her daughter was dead. heard it but i didn't hear it. >> reporter: in opening statement, smith's attorney says his client was manipulated by a codefendant, ryan anthony who pled guilty and serving a life sentence. sarah redden is also charged. >> ronald anthony who kille

the state has been pushing for the death penalty saying the murder of huggins-jones was cruel and it was brutal but the defense said there were extent waiting circumstances and that smith ought to be locked up for the rest of his natural life. >> she's down on the bed and she can't do a thing to help herself. and they kept on. they kept beating her, they kept stabbing her. they didn't stop. >> when we talk about the worst of the worst we don't mean simply the worst of the worst crimes. we are talking about and that's just not travion smith, the worst of the worst those who have killed before, those whose history and everything else shows if they're not giving the ultimate again. >> smith portrayed in two different ways. >> the defense tried to blame someone else in this phase of the trial i submit to you mother and his father. >> meanwhile his lawyers i am employered the jury to spare him and let him stay in jail for his natural life. >> in other words, there is always a role for the mitigating circumstances, and there is always room for the mitigating circumstances to urge mercy in

was look out the night alyssa huggins huggins jones will take the stand tomorrow. prosecutors connected smith to huggins jones north hills apartment and a storm laptop. investigators say smith and wild anthony tried to sell laptops stolen from the apartment complex's leasing office that same night. anthony already pled guilty and is serving a life sentence. >> imagine mold and mildew invading your home, you're stuck in a release any landlord won't fix it. tomorrow we walk you through your rights, plus learn the one thing not to do when you find mold. whether you write or own watch five on your side tomorrow at six on kbak. >> today wells fargo issued layoff notices to 87 employees in raleigh and 68 in charlotte. workers received a 60 day notice effective today. the bay says this is the result of market changes. this is their third round of layoffs since september. preferred route for the 540 out of loop through southern white county. the orange root is the one competition officials have an eye for 20 years but environmentalists didn't like it because they said it w

huggins-jones was killed in her bed while her daughter was asleep next door. today, the jury heard from the daughter. >> reporter: sean, prosecutors say that travion smith should get the death penalty because of the brutal nature of the murder. but the defense is saying there are mitigating stances that the jury must take into account. >> we ask that you remember the brutal killing in the autopsy photos which were difficult for determining whether this crime was especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel. >> reporter: with that, the prosecution brought melissa huggins-jones 10-year-old daughter to the stand. the judge did not allow cameras to photograph hannah jones, who recalled her mom as funny, giving, and loving, as she described finding her dead mother in bed, audible crying could be heard from family members in the courtroom. >> reporter: the defense claims travion fared no better with his bad. >> he got no stability, no structure, and rather got abuse from his dad. >> she would slip alcohol in their bottles, or whatever she could to get them to go to sleep

huggins jones was found dead by her eight-year-old daughter the next morning. death penalty and was sentenced to life without parole. smith decided to risk a death penalty trial to prove he is not guilty. >> the last statements we have were from 2015 in which she said ronald anthony told her she was the one -- he was the one that did all of the attacking. reporter: prosecutors say that she has changed her stories and contends anthony and smith were involved in the killing. it took a month for the jury to be picked and the case itself is expected to take even longer than that. those jurors will gather in the morning and we will hear opening arguments sometime around 10:00. in a fond on the -- in a pond on the virginia tech campus. john: the evidence could be connected to the murder of a 13-year-old girl. barbara: it is a very disturbing case. reporter: a pair of virginia tech college students are in court today accused in connection with the kidnapping and murder of 13-year-old student david eisenhower appeared in court today facing first-degree mu >> this kid -

melissa huggins-jones not only suffered physically but emotionally and was no doubt worried about her 8-year-old daughter who was sleeping down the hall as she lied dying. >> she had been struck 18 times at this point.

huggins-jones lying in a bed in her apartment, stabbed. family members sobbed, one left. we look at the picture earlier in the trial, but he did not look this time. the move was especially cruel -- murder was especially cruel, and it was a slow death, not knowing what would happen to her daughter down the hall. >> everything she could do to protect her child. in the end, she did not know what was going to her. she died at not knowing what was going to happen to her. she could not help her own daughter. reporter: fortunately, the little girl was unharmed. without knowing that. the first offense attorney reminded jurors that even and already faces a very harsh punishment. >> should never leave risen -- prioson on his own volition. the only question left to decide is whether or not god will determine the time and manner of the state of carolina. reporter: after the defense wraps up, the second defense attorney is just getting ready to start, when they close, the jury will be sent to lunch. when they return, they will discuss and to liberate. -- he liberate. amber: jury selec

gloria: a guilty verdict for traveon smith convicted of the murder of melissa huggins-jones. jones's family erupts in tears of relief. smith sits stone faced. the defense blames lisko defendant ronald anthony for the crime. >> everyone in this case is involved because of ronald anthony. personality and he is the one that everybody is connected to. gloria: anthony pwhrerdbled guilty to avoid death but the prosecutor says smith was involved in the murder of jones. >> ronald anthony is a murderer. that is what they wanted you to believe this entire trial. and it is true. but they content get away from that either. travion smith is a murderer also. gloria: court resumes this morning at 9:30. the death penalty phase is expected to take two or three days and we will be streaming it live on abc11.com. live in raleigh, gloria rodriguez, abc 11 eyewitness news. barbara: right now durham police are looking for a person who shot a 1 1/2-year-old boy. investigators say the baby was caught in the crossfire of a drive-by yesterday on great bend drive. john: a twist of the christmas hill. o

the jury found travion smith melissa huggins jones. jurors will decide if he gets the death penalty. >>> apple says it is fighting a judge's order to help the fbi access information stored in an iphone that once belonged to california shooters. the magistrate ruled apple a supply the fbi with specialized software that will access syed farook , his phone. >>> after a couple crazy days more sunshine. very happy. it's been active here for the past several days we went from snow and ice on monday to heavy rain and wind yesterday. today we're clearing this afternoon. 50 4r high temperature, near 50 tomorrow and in the low 50s on friday. temperatures shy of average by a few degrees but we will be sunny to the end of the week. the weekend looks great. 66 saturday, 64 sunday and it is warm and sunny and perfect for february. no complaints for the next several days. as far as the morning drive, we have just a few issues outside. clayton bypass but other than that no major issues to report. always a good thing when we are not dealing with wet we

huggins huggins-jones was beaten and stabbed to death in 2013. her eight-year-old daughter the next half hour here what injury. the plane was bound four southern japan. john: trash and dash. teenagers accused of causing at least $20,000 of damage in fayetteville. barbara: eric mcclish is charged with vandalism and they are looking for a second teenager. one of the vandals busted a window to get in and let the others in. nearly every room has damage. john: today the youth and college division of the naacp taking on the system president. they will deliver a public records request to the u.n.c. board of governors about the hiring of margaret spellings. she claim she was secretly recruited whichby a caucus. accountability in the haorg process. others say she has a poor record with historically blockack colleges. her first day on the job is march 1. barbara: the naacp is blasting the district maps drawn by state republicans asking a federal court to reject them and draw new districts. president william barber says they are skeptical of any maps by rep

troopers say the driver of an suv was heading north on u-s 301 when she hit huggins. she was not hurt. highway patrol is still investigating. the former university of south carolina running back accused of inappropriate conduct while working as a volunteer coach at spring valley high school will have all five charges against him dropped. harold green, who played with the gamecocks from 1986 to 1990, was charged with five counts of inappropriate conduct back in september 2014. authorities say green touched students and trainers that worked with the schools football program. green was removed from the spring valley high school football team after the allegations came forward. a sumter man is under arrest on child pornography charges. malcolm rainey was arrested yesterday and is charged with four counts of sexual exploitation of minors. investigators say rainey was involved in exchanging files containing child pornography by way of peer-to-peer file sharing. a kershaw county man is behind bars thanks to a deputy's body camera. wednesday and charged with making a false po

. >> that same jury convicted him of killing melissa huggins- jones at her north raleigh apartment. wral's mikaya thurmond is live at the wake county justice center to give us a timeline on the reports today. >> reporter: closing arguments are set to begin first thing this morning. then commenters will have to decide between the death penalty or life in prison. melissa huggins-jones was found beaten and stabbed in her north raleigh apartment in may 2013 daughter. smith kildee of her first- degree murder. defense rested. get the sentencing case. the state requires a unanimous decision by all soldiers. when the jury comes back with a decision we will stream live on www.wral.com. bill and renee, the trial is set to resume at 9:00 am. >> thanks. reporting live in raleigh. >>> new this morning, camp the june's main gate is temporarily closed because of a water main break. it's in the vicinity of the holcombe and brewster boulevard intersection. both piney green road and wilson boulevard gates have been opened early to rm inbound traffic to continue to flow onto base during the busy morni

he's charged with killing melissa huggins-jones two years ago. the 30-year-old mother just a new life as well as a new job. prosecutors say smith and to others are breaking into cars in the area near north hills. at some point, smith went into the apartment of huggins- jones, autopsy results reveal she was beaten to death. her 8-year-old little girl found her dead the next morning. another suspect in the case, ronald anthony, pleaded guilty to murder in the case and is facing a sentence or serving a sentence for life in prison. he could take the stand in this case as well as the third suspect, sarah redden, who has admitted to being the getaway driver in the case but officials say she has changed her story several times. she is also expected to testify. if she does she will testify first in front of the judge and he will make the determination if she will then also testify for the jury. today's opening statements start at nine quantity this morning. www.wral.com. >> tara lynn reporting live in raleigh, thank you. >>> the 2016 presidential race th

jones. >> what happened to melissa huggins jones was horrible, tragic, and heartbreaking. and it was completely senseless. and travion will be punished for the rest of his life because of what happened. but his history before what happened does not show that he's incapable of redemption. >> but the prosecution says there's no redemption for smith, only the ultimate punishment. >> how much hatred does it take to get there. not one blow. but 18 blows. at close range. they were on top of her. they didn't shoot her.

melissa huggins-jones was killed in her north raleigh apartment during a burglary in may 2013. three people were charged in connection with the killing, one man is on trial. amanda lamb is covering the trial in joins us from the newsroom with what's happening today. amanda? >> reporter: the testimony to has generally focused on what led up to this murder. now there were a series of break-ins of course, and a leasing office of the apartment complex, just below her apartment was also burglarized. now, police say the connected some stolen items to travion smith and his two codefendants after a posting on craigslist offering one of the stolen laptops for sale. while they do not know for sure at first, the crimes were related to the murder, of melissa huggins-jones, they >> i felt like if we investigated the burglary, that might lead us to a suspect in the death of melissa huggins- jones. >> reporter: they said that the advertisement for the laptop eventually led them to travion smith, ronald anthony d sarah redden, even when this testimony seems subroutine, this is such an emotiona

and you can see the today show is going to be on 17.2. >>> other news today the huggins-jones murder trial is expected to go to a jury this after the defense and prosecution rested on friday of last week. medical examiner as its last witness of at one point melissa's mother put her head down and clutched a tissue very emotional for her and her family. the medical examiner said huggins-jones had 18 different injuries and bled to death during the course of an hour. defense lawyers said smith would not take the stand and they rested without presenting any evidence. >>> and switching gears right now it is 6:47 on this monday morning. here's the storm warning that's in effect right now through tomorrow morning at 7 a.m. it includes person and orange counties areas there expected to get more snow and more sleet making very dangerous travel conditions. all of us though really seeing the slick roadways out there develop this morning. the winter weather advisory will continue through 7 p.m. today for wake county, areas off to the virginia border. now, i am expecting some warmer air to move in

the huggins-jones murder trial is expected to go to the jury today. the state used the medical examiner as its last witness. the smith did not take the stand. >>> some people still dealing with the impact of yesterday's winter weather dozens of flights yesterday so make sure that you check your flight status before you head to the airport today. >> yeah in fact rdu just tweeting out that a few flights going to be cancelled this morning. >>> yeah, winter weather impacting us but a handle portion of the eastern half of the country yesterday and of course we've got some of the heavy rain outside this morning, a few thunderstorms, you could definitely hear some of the rain pounding on the roof but we are going to be warming up to about 61 degrees today, 56 tomorrow we might have a stray shower overnight tonight and early tomorrow morning, other than that the rest of your forecast through the end of the weekend looks dry and 66 degrees on saturday and 64 on sunday. it's going to be a nice treat after a messy start to this week. >>> so let's take things out

he is charged with murdering melissa huggins-jones in her apartment. the jury must decide whether to send smith to prison for the rest of his life for the death penalty. >>> a man is dead -- troopers say a high-speed chase ended on us-401 in fuquay-varina. troopers say scotty horn crashed his motorcycle into a car. horn was treated at the hospital and released to jail. extra security will be on hand at a johnston county high school today following an online threat. someone made the threat against cleveland high school on social media. investigators have not been credible evidence that have notified parents. let's get a check on the forecast now with aimee. >> pretty weather expected. chillum this morning. temperatures happen in the 20s and 30s, everybody has made 33 in roxboro, dirty eight in fayetteville, 39 in clinton. certainly a chilly start. a little bit of cloud cover, this is a live look from the durham sky cam. you can see the sunshine making its way through the clouds and we will have more son compared to cloud cover. should be real pretty out

they were -- huggins-jones. they were only there to burglaryize their home, toburglarize -- to bur to rob the home. >>> and at a spa owned by burch, and two people accused of starving a death will be in court. frankie barker and daniel derocher, charged with felony cruelty to animals. animal control tells wncn officers found one dog dead and another still alive, but locked in a metal crate with no food and water. that dog is recovering. >>> today a prayer vigil will take place in durham to honor a man shot ask killed in december. someone shot and -- shot and killed in december. someone shot and killed orry. last month, wiggins was arrested. today's vigil starts at 6 p.m. on concord street. >>> an effort to curb violent crime is getting results. since early december, people have been searching for 19 people with ties to violent crime. as of yesterday, they've arrested eight people. started. >> we've continued to make some significant arrests and work this special operation and keep the pressure at the right place

melissa huggins-jones was found beaten and stabbed to death three years ago. her daughter found her. apple says it will fight a judge's order to help the f.b.i. access information stored am an iphone that belonged to one of the san bernardino terrorists. the magistrate ruled apple must supply the software that will help them hack syed farook's phone. pope francis wraps up the trip to mexico with some of his most anticipated events. he will visit a prison. stop at the texas border and meet with mexican workers. sex assault previous district attorney that he would never be charged over the encounter. a florida man trading in his for happened cuffs. he is accused of practicing medicine without a license. he was so convincing he had his own medical clinic going in west palm beach. 18. a female undercover officer busted him after he allegedly gave her a physical. love-robinson denies the accusations accusations. barbara: the f.d.a. is taking action to protect blood donations from the zika virus saying blood banks refuse donations from people that traveled to affect

melissa huggins' body was found, and tri-von smith was accused of murder in a botched burglary. her 8-year-old found her body. >>> a 24-year-old accused of expected back in a cumberland county courtroom today. police say kevin powell junior, shot his mother in the head at a salon she owned in fayetteville. at last check, burch was in critical condition. >>> fort bragg's investigating the death of a paratrooper. private first class jacob buckmaster was found unresponsive in his barracks on monday. he joined the army in september of 2014. buckmaster, an oklahoma native are survived by his parents. >>> three teenagers are charged with throwing backs off an interstate overpass. deputies say several 911 calls led them to mile marker 65. they found the teenagers inside of a white bmw. investigators say they threw freight liner trucks in jail with -- freight liner trucks in jail. >>> and 72-year-old robert durst has been in jail since being arrested last year, the day before the final episode of a crime documentary about his life and is facing first-degree murder in california. >>> and

in emotional moments following the verdict, huggins-jones' parents read statements to the court. what you really deserve is to suffer and die in the same manner melissa did. this is the 6th case in a row where the district attorney asked for the death penalty, and wake county juries have not sent a defendant to death row in more than 8 years. we are getting our first look inside the damage to a popular raleigh landmark. the boylan bridge brew pub was forced to close after a wall collapse earlier this month. water pressure from a leaky sprinkler caused one wall to collapse, bringing down a portion of the roof as well. the entire basement was flooded; now it is a mess of mud and equipment that owner andrew leager is still hoping to salvage. he is working to get repairs underway, and hopes to reopen within 6 months . but admits that may not happen. andrew leager / owner, boylan bridge brewpub c38 13:56:03 i feel upbeat about what we can do. this is downtown raleigh . . i get emotional about it so . we've got a lot of prospects here :24 the brewpub is a fixture in downtown raleigh wi

melissa huggins jones is a family left the courthouse without making a common history. the jury returned a guilty verdict for travion smith. the decision came within an hour of closing arguments. jurors will decide if he gets the death penalty. it can take several days to reach a decision. >>> we sent a push alert after the jury reached a verdict for you can sign up for them by telling the wncn news app for apple and android devices. it's free in your app store. >>> pope francis wraps up his trip to mexico. he will visit war is present stop at the tech -- border. event for he focused on the injustices by mexico's poorest, most suppressed and vulnerable to the drug violence. >>> the gop presidential candidates are gearing up for south carolina town hall discussions. msnbc will host back-to-back specials with trump and john casey. trump will air in o'clock p.m. in a town hall with governor kasich will air 7:00 pm. as for the rest of the field three will appear in a town hall.>>> governor mcquarrie will head to chapel hill to take part in a panel discussion. unc chancellor

. >>> what led up to the murder of melissa huggins jones. late that afternoon, a man who got up in the case after the fact, tells the jury what he knows. amanda lamb shows us what he had to say. >> reporter: melissa huggins jones was killed in her north hills apartment the same night there were a series of other break-ins in and around her apartment complex. police believed there was a connection. when they saw a laptop stolen from the apartments leasing office listed for sale on craigslist, they contacted the seller, michael. >> it seems fishy. >> why? >> because no one ever offers you exactly what you want for a laptop on craigslist. >> scared me to death. i took the posting down. ronald anthony, who pled guilty in the case, finally told him the truth about the laptop. >> he told me they were hot. >> reporter: he testified that travion smith who is on trial for murder, called him and offered him another laptop. >> $1000 laptop, you will take $0 for it right now? -- $50 for it right now, bringing up too many bells and whistles for me. not r

. >> smith murdered melissa huggins-jones in her raleigh apartment during a burglary. yesterday, jurors heard from the victims now 10-year-old daughter who found her mother's body. melissa huggins-jones was found beaten and stabbed in her raleigh apartment in may 2013 by her the 8-year-old daughter, hannah jones. >> the child took the stand as a loved ones watched. because of her age, we believe what she said as she described her mother. >> saying, cold, she was very funny. should always make you have a smile on your face. she was very giving and loving to everyone she knew. the same jury that convicted travion smith will decide whether he will get life in prison or the death penalty. a death sentence requires a unanimous decision by all 12 jurors. >>> a toddler injured in a drive-by shooting at his daycare is no longer in the

gloria: a guilty verdict for traveon smith convicted of the murder of raleigh mother melissa huggins-jones. jones's family erupts in tears of relief. the defense blames ronald anthony. >> everyone in this case is involved because of ronald anthony. he's the one with the dynamic personality and the one everybody is convicted to. gloria: anthony pleaded guilty to avoid death. the prosecutor said smith was also involved in the 2013 murder murder. >> ronald anthony is a murder erer. that is what they wanted you to believe this entire trial. but they can't get away from that either. travion smith is a murderer also. gloria: the death penalty phase is expected to take two to three days. if the jury decides to send smith to death row it would be wake county's first death sentence in nearly a decade. live in raleigh, gloria rodriguez, abc 11 eyewitness news. don: right barbara: right now durham police are looking for the personal responsible for shooting a 1 1/2-year-old boy. was caught in a cross fire. in the next half hour we will see where the search stands and how the boy is doing. >> a maim t

's prosecutors say that murdered melissa huggins-jones in her north hills apartment in 2013. wral's tara lynn joins us in the newsroom, closing arguments are set for this morning, they were supposed to occur yesterday. >> reporter: that's right. we had that winter weather so they were delayed until today. prosecutors say that travion smith was breaking into cars with two other people the night of melissa huggins-jones'4 murder. they say he and ronald anthony peter chapter in the murder. 8-year-old daughter found her kids up covered in blood the next morning. ronald anthony has already pleaded guilty and it's a during ening statements, the defense told jurors that was anthony that was the ringleader and that he implemented travion smith into participating in huggins-jones'. closing arguments are set for 9:30, you can watch them on e website. if convicted, travion smith could face the death penalty. >>> a man wanted for murder in fayetteville is in jail in another state this rning. and damien boyd was arrested in lake county, florida. he is awaiting extradition on charges of fi

the owners the day care immediately shut it down. >>> the sentencing phase he killed huggins-jones in a raleigh apartment in 2013. his defense is now trying to save him from the death penalty. >>> today bill cosby's wife is said to give her deposition in a defamation lawsuit against the comedian. a group of women claimed cosby sexually assaulted them. the attorneys requested a delay in the deposition but late last night a judge denied the move. they have been married for more than 50 years. she worked for her husband as a business manager for years. private conversations between a married couple protected by law but business conversations not. >>> the search is on for answers after investigators found this man shot to death. johnson was just released from prison. he died at the hospital. the shooting happened around 12:30 yesterday morning in the area near charmain street. if you have any information on what happened please call >>> today a wake forest woman is expected in court after authorities say she assaulted a police officer and a k-9. she's charged with assault with deadly weap

melissa huggins-jones was beaten and stabbed during a burglary at her apartment in may 2013. >> ronald anthony's behavior before and after the crime he is the one responsible in the death of melissa ggins- jones. >> this case is about the state of north carolina versus travion smith. at the end of the day, the fact that ronald anthony has pled guilty to first-degree murder has no basis, has no relevance to what you are here decide. >> the jury is considering first-degree murder and second- degree murder. if convicted of first-degree murder, the jury will have to decide if he should be sentenced to death or life in prison. >>> now to a breaking traffic news, a massive police presence has closed i-40 in raleigh. >> here's what we know. police are investigating a person on that bridge. i-40 is closed in both directions on rock quarry road. you're looking at the traffic camera. you can see evidence of it being close. it is also close up i-40 overpass. the incident involves a person on e bridge. updates as soon as information becomes available. you can also find breaking news updates on our

jones. >> what happened to melissa huggins jones was horrible, tragic, and heartbreaking. and it was completely senseless. and travion will be punished for the rest of his life because of what happened. but his history before what happened does not show that he's incapable of redemption. >> but the prosecution says there's no redemption for smith, only the ultimate punishment. >> how much hatred does it take to get there. not one blow. but 18 blows. at close range. they were on top of her. they didn't shoot her. her, in her own bed. and stabbed her in her face. and tore her nose off. how does that not call for it? how does that not call for the death penalty? >> but the jury did not agree. after the verdict was rendered, the parents of melissa were able to address travion smith directly in court through victim impact statements. very compelling stuff. >> absolutely. we did hear from several family members before the sentencing recommendation, including melissa's mother, don wallace, she actually spoke directly to her daughter's killer at one point during her statement. >>

melissa huggins-jones' body was found. and in court witnesses testified her 8-year-old daughter found her body covered in blood and ran to a nearby construction worker for help. >> she had blood all over her face and blood was everywhere, and i put two fingers on her she was cold as a block of ice. >> smith is one of three charged in this case. ronald anthony pled guilty to second-degree murder and one more hasn't going to trial. the group was breaking into cars in the area where huggins-jones was killed. they never intended to kill them they said. they were inside her apartment only to burglarize her place, but the crime quickly escalated to murder. >>> a man accused of trying to kill his own mother is expected back in a cumberland county courtroom. kevin powell junior is charged with attempted murder after police say he shot his mother, derema burst at a fayetteville salon and spa. at last check she was? critical condition at unc -- she was in critical condition at unc hospital. >>> today two people charged with starving

melissa huggins jones was found stabbed to death by her then 8- year-old daughter hannah jones. the child took the stand as her d ngof arnnlis ap aran sh. h s.ng sh he udmandg rs w a ol teda . d e l daigiores ne ry fayet is t thrordemvi a reew s.meerca the laser during preparations for touchdown in mexico city. no one was hurt. >>> many of you have plans to umre n n'cocoaicoidsafee di mmdere r orrid emur, ra ch tas kasqecthe r stmt g r pe an duthuay as>> stabig. gew,t.habrd frks enere on >>> stocks close hider led by gains in energy companies, a rise in the price of crude oil, dow up 257 points, nasdaq 98. sp up 31. >>> the show crime watch daily, has a voice mail , the host claims could have recorded the final moments of the unc student's life. she was found dead in her apartment. no one has been arrested. her case was featured on the true crime show. the voice message is garbled and sounds like an accidental dial. an expert says it reveal hearse voice and screams. chapel hill police has the voice mail have analyzed it and will do to again in necessary. >>> eo of apple says the

. >>> the melissa huggins jones murder trial is expected to go to a jury on monday after the defense and prosecution rested today. the state used the medical examiner as its last witness. at one point melissa's mom put her head down and clutched a tissue. huggins jones had 18 injuries and pled to death over the course of an hour. >> the combined blood loss from all the injuries contributed to her death. >> defense lawyer said travion smith wouldn't take the stand and they rested without presenting any evidence. >>> durham public schools will cut 150 jobs this summer. district officials say the budget gap. 15 teaching positions will be cut gradually. along with 100 current positions. the cuts are set to begin july 1st. >>> the u.n.c system is weeks away from its new president taking over. addressed protests aimed at her. wncn's political reporter bo minnick was there earlier today and has the story. >> my assignment today is to frame what i expect from you and what you can expect from me in return. >> reporter: her talk about the expectations at the unc board of governors retreat. she

smith is accused of murdering mother of two, melissa huggins- jones, in 2013. during closing arguments in the case, the defense tried to convince jurors that another man, ronald anthony, was the ringleader and manipulated smith to participate. anthony pleaded guilty last year in order to avoid the death penalty but the argument was not enough to convince the

smith was convicted of beating and stabbing melissa huggins to death in 2013. the same jury that convicted him of murder will decide whether he should get life in prison or the the defense has called several testify about his abusive childhood. the prosecution only calls victims -- the victim's witness. hannah jones talked about apartment. smith was accused of the murder along with ronald anthony and sarah redden. anthony pleaded guilty last year to avoid the death penalty. charges against redden remain. barbara: you can watch the hearing live on nbc.com. abc 11 eyewitness news. john: jury selection is scheduled to get underway today. in the trial of a man accused of killing a student 20 years ago. edwin long is accused of killing her remains, later found by construction workers off u.s. one near control -- 197. he was indicted in december after additional testing. barbara: a man accused of shooting a toddler will take the stand today. marion laney is charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. the toddler was shot inside a home daycare tuesday a