BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WECT) - Deputies with the Brunswick County Sheriff's Office announced Tuesday they have a man in custody they believe was involved in the death of 86-year-old Linnie Mae Ward.
According to officials, Richard Grissett, 51 of Shallotte, was arrested and charged with murder Monday night. They said evidence leads them to believe Grissett robbed Ward the night she was killed.
Deputies recovered rifle in a pond at Grissett's home that he had taken from Ward.
Sheriff's said Grissett and Ward lived 10 minutes apart and that they knew of each other, but didn't have daily contact.
Detectives say Ward was found dead in her home on Gwynn Road in Longwood Nov. 13. A deputy found her body when he was met by a relative of Ward's who was at her home to check on her.
The sheriff's office said the autopsy revealed Ward died from strangulation and blunt force trauma to the face.
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Richard Grissett (Source: Brunswick Co. Sheriff's Office)
Linnie Mae Ward (Source: Brunswick County Sheriff's Office)
Linnie Mae Ward was found dead in her home in the 1970 block of Gwynn Road in Longwood.
Deputies found the rifle Grissett stole from Ward in a pond on his property.
