Catawba County man’s trial delayed in triple homicide

The capital murder trial of a Claremont man accused of killing three people in 2011 has been delayed until March 28.

Everette Porshau Hewitt was scheduled to stand trial on March 7. But in requesting a delay, defense attorney Robert Campbell cited personal issues that would impede him from adequately preparing for the trial, according to the Catawba County District Attorney’s Office. A judge on Monday granted the request.

Hewitt, 37, is charged with three counts of murder in connection with the March 15, 2011 shooting deaths of Wade Sigmon, Susan Blevins and Connie Miller at Oak Knoll Mobile Home Park in Conover. He also is accused of shooting a fourth victim, Joseph Burke, in the neck. Burke survived.

Hewitt was taken into custody a little more than 24 hours later. He also is charged with attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, first-degree burglary and robbery with a dangerous weapon.

He has been in the Catawba County Jail without bond since his arrest nearly five years ago.

The motive in the shootings appeared to be robbery, Sheriff Coy Reid said at the time.

“The (shooter) at the door pulled out the gun, demanded their wallets, and then he started shooting,” Reid told the Observer in 2011

The victims knew Hewitt, Reid said, and were using drugs together some time before the shootings. Authorities believe Hewitt knew one of the victims had money in a bank account and came back to steal an ATM card, Reid said.

Court records show Hewitt was convicted of felony burglary, assault on a female and resisting an officer in the late 1990s. He was last released from an N.C. prison in 2000.

Cleve R. Wootson Jr. contributed

This story was originally published January 26, 2016 at 6:41 AM with the headline "Catawba County man’s trial delayed in triple homicide."