A North Carolina woman is currently in custody, charged with the murder of her mother in their shared home, according to local law enforcement. Danya Kathryn Dewey, 40, is facing a first-degree murder charge, as reported by the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office. Dewey’s demeanor in her booking photograph suggests a certain defiance towards the accusations.
On August 22, deputies from the sheriff’s office performed a wellness check at a residence on Clarks Crossing Way, a remote location off North Carolina Highway 9 in Black Mountain, a small town approximately 15 miles east of Asheville. The body of 63-year-old Lori Pallinger was discovered inside the home, as per a press release from the sheriff’s office.
In an initial public statement, law enforcement identified the deceased woman’s daughter as a person of interest. The press release also indicated that Dewey might be driving a silver 2015 Subaru Outback with a North Carolina license plate number KDS-3461, and urged anyone with information on her whereabouts to contact the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office.
By late Thursday morning, Dewey was apprehended in Asheville. She was taken into custody without incident following a brief standoff with local law enforcement, the sheriff’s office reported. Asheville Police Department patrol officers located Dewey’s vehicle, and she was identified inside but initially refused to exit the vehicle, according to sheriff’s office spokesperson Christina Esmay.
The charges against Dewey allege that she “unlawfully, willfully, and feloniously did of malice aforethought kill and murder” her mother, as per the charging document obtained by the Citizen-Times. However, details surrounding the case remain limited, with investigators remaining tight-lipped. There is currently no public information regarding a possible motive or the alleged murder weapon.
The investigation is still ongoing, according to law enforcement. Dewey is currently held in the Buncombe County Detention Facility without bond. Jail records note that she has a “lion” tattoo on one of her upper arms. Dewey is scheduled for her next court appearance on August 26.