Manhunt for murder suspect ongoing as details emerge of domestic violence complaint

As the manhunt for a Charlotte double homicide suspect entered its second day Friday, new details emerged about a domestic violence complaint that his wife filed against him two weeks ago, including claims that he once threatened to kill her.

Authorities are searching for Vurnel Smith Jr., accused of killing a couple in northeast Charlotte in what appeared to be a domestic dispute.

Police said Friday that Smith might have fled the area, but offered few other new details.

Jacqueline Gordon-White, 65,was found dead in a home, and the body of 69-year-old Rufus Gordon, in a car trunk on Thursday. Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said Smith, 40, is “dangerous” and believed to be traveling in a 2017 black Honda CRV with N.C. license plate: PAS-9116.

The killings occurred Tuesday, according to warrants, Observer news partner WBTV reported. Police said Gordon-White was killed in a home in the 9000 block of Red Clay Lane and another woman was hurt. When the woman drove to a nearby hospital, police said they found Rufus Gordon’s body in the trunk of her car.

WBTV reported the couple were the parents of the injured woman. A police source told WBTV that Smith allegedly held that woman captive over days and was sexually assaulting her, but she managed to get out of the house Thursday morning and drive to the hospital.

Anyone with information about the double murder is asked to call police at 704-432-8477 or Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.

Claims of abuse

Court records from the domestic violence complaint were filed by Smith’s wife, Keydra Smith, on July 15 in Mecklenburg County District Court. She said he showed up drunk at her job at a local banking company, even though she’d asked him not to contact her, the complaint said.

In her complaint, Keydra Smith described a pattern of abuse. On Jan. 1, she said, Vurnel Smith choked and hit her “more than once.” In March 2016, she said, “I was hit, knocked down and my knee was hurt. I went to the hospital.”

In October 2016, Keydra Smith said in the complaint, her husband threatened to kill her, her brother and her child from a prior relationship.

District Court Judge Regan Miller denied her request, saying she’d failed to prove a domestic violence order was warranted, court records show.

North Carolina records show the couple was married two years ago in Charlotte.

Staff writer Mark Price contributed.

This story was originally published July 28, 2017 at 8:18 AM with the headline "Manhunt for murder suspect ongoing as details emerge of domestic violence complaint."