Timothy Stone

Timothy Stone, a 33-year-old Black male from New York, was in Charlotte, North Carolina, in the early spring of 2008 for reasons that remain unclear. His visit would end in a tragedy that became one of the city's most infamous unsolved crimes, a brutal quadruple homicide that would wait over a decade for a significant break. The case has left investigators with the conviction that more people were involved than have been held accountable, and the full story of that night remains incomplete.

The day was March 24, 2008, the Monday after Easter. Just before 6 a.m., Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers were dispatched to the Tree Top Apartments on High Meadow Lane in the southwestern part of the city. A call had come in to check on the welfare of the people inside a top-floor unit, Apartment W. When officers entered, they discovered a horrific scene. Four people had been shot to death, their bodies riddled with bullets. A then-CMPD detective would later describe it as "a lot of gunshots."

The victims were identified as Timothy Stone; the apartment's resident, 46-year-old William Royster; and a couple from Tega Cay, South Carolina, 43-year-old Andrew Babyak and his 31-year-old girlfriend, Cherilyn Crawford. Three of the victims were found in a bedroom, while a fourth was discovered in a bathroom, suggesting some may have tried to hide from their killer or killers. Investigators believed the murders had occurred around 5:30 a.m., within an hour of the 911 call. Despite the volley of gunfire, extensive canvassing of the neighborhood revealed that no one had reported hearing the shots.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department launched an intensive investigation into the execution-style slayings. In the initial days, dozens of SWAT officers searched the complex, but no suspects were found. Detectives received numerous tips, but the trail soon went cold. Investigators publicly stated their belief that the victims were "involved in a lifestyle that put them in jeopardy," a reference to suspected drug activity, and that Royster's apartment may have been the target. Neighbors had previously reported frequent and unusual traffic to and from the residence. Police theorized that Stone, Babyak, and Crawford were likely killed simply because they were witnesses.

For nearly 11 years, the case sat with CMPD's cold case unit. The families of the victims were left with unanswered questions and the persistent pain of not knowing who was responsible. Then, on March 6, 2019, there was a major breakthrough. The cold case unit arrested 32-year-old Dominick O'Neill Daise and charged him with four counts of first-degree murder. At a press conference announcing the arrest, police expressed relief but were adamant that the case was not closed. "This was a horrific crime and something that really shook our community," said CMPD Maj. Cam Selvey. He stated that police were confident Daise did not act alone and that they were still actively seeking others involved.

The arrest brought a measure of hope to the victims' families. Lu Prudhomme, Cherilyn Crawford's mother, spoke to the media, expressing her gratitude to the detectives who never gave up. "Today is a day we are grateful for and that we've waited 11 years for," she said. "It was devastating to our family... it doesn't go away. It's going to be a life-long journey living without Cherilyn." Her words highlighted the enduring grief carried by the loved ones of all four victims.

As of the announcement in March 2019, the investigation into the murders of Timothy Stone, William Royster, Andrew Babyak, and Cherilyn Crawford remains open. The motive has not been officially released, as police continue to pursue other persons of interest. "We don't give up on our cases," a CMPD official stated. "I don't care if it's 11 days or 11 years." A $5,000 reward is still being offered by Crime Stoppers for any information that leads to additional arrests. Anyone with knowledge of the case is urged to call detectives at 704-432-TIPS or Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.