Couple accused of burying body ordered held without bond

STANLY COUNTY, N.C. — Don Cole will remember Robert Hearne, better known as Tico, as a fun-loving man who got along with everyone.

"He was a great guy," said Cole.

Just hours before Tico's funeral Wednesday, a judge ordered his nephew, Toni Hearne; and Toni Hearne's girlfriend, Linsey Lentz; held in jail without bond after he told them one at a time they're charged with capital murder and concealing and failing to report a death.

Channel 9’s camera wasn't allowed inside during the hearing, where prosecutors said they haven't decided whether they'll seek the death penalty.

“We don't wish anything bad on anybody, but whatever God's will is, that's what we'll have to work with," Cole said.

Channel 9 has followed every development of this case since a deputy said he caught Hearne and Lentz trying to dump Tico's body in Alexander County about 80 miles from their home March 9.

"You never expect something this heinous to happen to a person like that, so it was really a shock to the entire community," Cole said.

Charges against Hearne and Lentz were transferred from Alexander County to Stanly County after investigators searched the Albemarle home where Tico lived with the couple.

Albemarle Police Chief Danny Bowen said, "We did find evidence that leads us to believe the incident most likely occurred here."

Police haven't said how Tico was killed, and they admit they don't know why he was.

Hearne and Lentz will be back in court on March 28. Albemarle police are still investigating the case and say more charges could be filed.

Cox Media Group