Court Orders Competency Evaluation for Suspect in North Carolina Double Homicide
A suspect arrested in Port Angeles on charges connected to a 2008 double homicide in North Carolina has been directed to a state hospital for a mental health evaluation after his attorney raised concerns regarding his ability to participate in his own defense.
An order issued on October 13 by Cabarrus County Superior Court mandates that the defendant be committed to the Butner campus of Central Regional Hospital. The order allows for a period of up to 60 days for observation and treatment to assess whether he is competent to proceed with the case.
The defendant faces two counts of first-degree murder and one count of robbery with a dangerous weapon. These charges relate to the killings of Donna Barnhardt and Darrell Noles at the Sun Drop Bottling Company in Concord.
In a motion filed on October 12, defense counsel outlined a history of mental health issues spanning multiple states and noted that her client had previously been found incapable of proceeding in other instances. She described his current state as scattered in his thoughts and words, making communication difficult for her and her investigative team.
The court determined that questions regarding the defendant’s capacity warranted a hospital examination rather than a local evaluation. The ruling directs that an evaluation take place but does not constitute a final determination regarding his mental competency.
The evaluation aims to determine if the defendant can understand the proceedings, comprehend his situation, and assist rationally in his defense. The assessment concerns his current ability to participate in the case and does not address whether he committed the alleged crimes.
The order instructs the Cabarrus County sheriff to transport the defendant to the hospital and return him once the evaluation concludes. The hospital is required to provide a written report detailing his mental health to his attorney and the clerk of Superior Court. No date has been set for a subsequent hearing.
According to Concord police, Barnhardt, 59, and Noles, 44, were found fatally shot at the bottling company on June 13, 2008. Barnhardt served as the longtime office manager, while Noles was at the facility to apply for employment.
Authorities stated that a review of evidence and previously undeveloped leads produced a breakthrough in the case in late 2025. Detectives contacted Port Angeles police that December and traveled to Washington in May 2026.
Port Angeles officers arrested the suspect without incident on May 21, the same day Concord police obtained his arrest warrant. Detectives with the Olympic Peninsula Narcotics Enforcement Team assisted in locating him.
Earlier reporting indicated that Port Angeles police records showed approximately 288 contacts with the suspect dating to November 2011, including 14 arrests. He was subsequently extradited to North Carolina.