Technology snags suspect in 1986 murder

County native brought here from N.J. Tuesday

• Zelma Sibbett Walters was stabbed to death on Jan. 29, 1986 and Terrence Levon Munn, 48, of Newark, N.J., is charged with her murder.

By BOB HIGH
Staff Writer

Terrence Levon Munn, a 48-year-old resident of New Jersey, took his first plane ride Tuesday. The journey could be Munn’s last by air.

The trip from Newark, N.J., to the Columbus County Airport was made in two hours, and he was led from a twin-engine turbo-prop SBI plane at 2:51 p.m.

North Carolina’s taxpayers provided Munn’s trip. Columbus County Sheriff Chris Batten and SBI Agent Mac Warner were with Munn – shackled at his ankles and cuffed at his wrists – as he stepped to the tarmac.

Born here in 1959, Munn faces a charge of murder, plus one of arson. The murder took place on Jan. 29, 1986 and took the life of Zelma Sibbett Walters, a 79-year-old widow who lived in a rambling two-story wood frame house along the Old Chadbourn Highway.

Munn has been the chief suspect for the past 252 months, but it was just 20 days ago that a piece of evidence was provided, through the SBI Crime Lab’s new technology, that led to his arrest.

May 11 entry

Sheriff’s Detective Capt. David Nobles obtained a warrant for murder, plus one for arson. He entered Munn’s name and date of birth on May 11 into the national crime system as being wanted for murder.

The move was done without fanfare. Nobles didn’t know how long he’d have to wait until a police officer somewhere might run Munn’s full name and date of birth through the system, and a “hit” would be recorded, and Munn would be taken into custody.

The next day, May 12, Nobles received a phone call shortly after 7 p.m. Munn’s name had surfaced in New Jersey after a wreck in Hillside, a small town in Union County.

Nobles confirmed the murder and arson warrants, and Munn was taken to jail where he was held without bond.

It took a few days for Munn to formally waive extradition. In North Carolina, a defendant can issue his own waiver. In New Jersey, a lawyer is required.

Newark airport

Finally, everything was ready. Sheriff Chris Batten and SBI Agent Mac Warner left the local airport in the SBI plane at 9 a.m. Tuesday. They landed at Newark International Airport 135 minutes later.

A vehicle was available and Batten and Warner were taken less than five miles from the airport to the Union County Jail.

Munn was there, ready to travel. He had on a Nautica t-shirt, light sweat pants, a pair of thin socks and flip-flops.

Batten and Warner, with Munn in custody, were driven back to the airport and a flight plan was filed for the return trip.

Two hours after takeoff, the small plane landed here.

Munn was ushered out and accompanied by Batten as they approached the small terminal building.

Munn was taking careful, short steps because his ankles were shackled and his wrists cuffed.

Older man waiting

He stopped in the shade of the building’s overhang and looked around.

There was an older man, with his foot propped up on a five-gallon can. The man was dressed in an open sport shirt, his gray hair combed back.

Munn was asked if he knew the man with the sport shirt. “No, I’ve never seen him before.”

Former sheriff’s detective George Dudley was the man in the sport shirt. He was asked if he recognized Munn.

“He looks older,” Dudley said with a straight face, 21 years after he had interviewed Munn and labeled him the chief suspect in Walters’ murder.

There was very little more small talk before Munn decided he didn’t want to say anything until he spoke to a lawyer. “Well, he lawyered up,” Detective Capt. David Nobles said.
Visited last year

Before Munn decided he had said enough, he acknowledged that he visited this area last year to attend the funeral of a cousin who lived in the Riegelwood area.

The suspect also said he had come back to Columbus County several times to visit while in New Jersey. He did not say he was visiting here in January 1986.

Batten said he recalled the murder. The man who is now sheriff was a road patrol deputy 21 years ago, working for Sheriff Bill Rhodes. “I was off that day (Wednesday, Jan. 29),” Batten noted.

Batten also noted Munn’s demeanor as the plane took off from Newark airport. “There was some turbulence, and he just closed his eyes, pushed back in the seat and moaned ‘Oh, God.’

“He was sort of a tour guide for us as we were leaving New Jersey. When we took off, the pilot banked the plane and you could see the Statue of Liberty in New York harbor,” the sheriff added.

Landmarks noted

“Mac (Warner) and I couldn’t remember the name of the island where the statue is, and Munn told us it was Ellis Island. Then, soon after that, we looked out the window and Mac said that was probably Atlantic City (N.J.) to our left.

“Munn looked and told us we were right. He didn’t say much else during the rest of the flight,” the sheriff said.

Munn was taken to jail where he was allowed to stand outside the entrance and smoke a cigarette.

There’s no smoking allowed inside the building. He was calm as Detective Nobles served the two warrants – murder and arson.

The suspect told Nobles he was born in New Jersey, but his birth certificate is on file in Columbus County. It’s a “delayed” certificate filed in August 1965 by his mother, Carrie Munn.

Born in Wananish

The certificate shows Mrs. Munn was living in Riegelwood at the time, and that Terrence was born in Wananish on May 13, 1959. Terrence’s father is shown as Harry Lee Munn.

The certificate also shows Terrence’s parents were natives of Bladen County.

The District Courtroom was the scene Wednesday morning. At 9:30 a.m. Judge Jerry Jolly entered, and gave his usual talk about defendants being able to get a court-appointed lawyer if proper paperwork was provided.

Munn was brought in shackled and cuffed.

Batten stood at the front of the courtroom, leaning against the wall within eight feet of Munn, seated in the jury box.

His name was the first one called by Assistant District Attorney Mike Stephens.

Two attorneys

Munn rose, and Jolly told him he had been charged with murder and that his penalty could be life in prison or execution.

Jolly said that because of the murder charge, there would be no bond, and his two attorneys (required in capital murder cases) would be appointed by the state’s Indigent Defense office in Raleigh.

A probable cause hearing was set for mid-June.
The victim’s family stared intently at the suspect while this was happening.

There were some quiet comments between Mrs. Walters’ daughter and three other members of the family.

Less than three minutes later, Munn’s required first appearance was over and he was removed from the courtroom.

Bicycle theft

Additional background in the 1986 case shows Munn was charged with breaking into a storage building and stealing a bicycle the morning Mrs. Walters was killed.

He was living in Irvington, N.J., at the time. This case was dismissed on Feb. 24, 1986 when “no probable cause is found,” according to the court record.

Munn attended Whiteville schools until the seventh grade, according to a former classmate and a former teacher.

It is believed he moved to New Jersey during this time in the early 1970s.

Munn’s marked his 48th birthday (May 13) in a New Jersey jail – one day after his arrest.