An elderly North Carolina couple was found shot to death in their front yard outside Gaston last week, and a neighbor and relative has been charged with their murder.

Deputies found Michael Powell, 72, and Carolyn Powell, 70, dead from gunshots to the had at point blank range on Thursday evening, the Northampton County Sheriff’s Office reported. Their truck was missing, and it was found early Friday morning at hotel parking lot in Roanoke Rapids.

Two hours later, law enforcement arrested Ryvaries Butcher, 35, and charged him with two counts of murder and one county of motor vehicle larceny.

Police said the motive for Butcher’s attack on the Powells “is still unclear,” but he “was a close neighbor and a relative of the victims.”

Butcher was booked without bond on the murder charges and is scheduled to appear in court on November 19.

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[Featured image: Ryvaries Butcher/Northampton County Sheriff’s Office]