Woman accused of killing her 95-year-old grandmother

SHELBY, N.C. — Only Channel 9's cameras were rolling as a man and a woman accused of murdering a 95-year-old Cleveland County woman made their first appearance in court on Wednesday.

Officials said the body of Mildred Blanton was found around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at a home on Woodside Drive in Shelby.

Detectives charged Blanton's granddaughter, Ashley Blanton Sanders, 46, with first-degree murder. Neighbors said Sanders had recently moved into her grandmother's home.

Christopher Thomas Sizemore, 24, is charged with first-degree murder, larceny of a motor vehicle and first-degree burglary in connection with the case.

(Sizemore, Sanders)

Blanton worked as a Red Cross volunteer and neighbors said she would often cook for them. She could often be seen working on her lawn as well.

"I was shocked. I don't know of anything that ever happened on Woodside Drive, much less a murder,” said neighbor Michael Hughes.

Investigators said neighbors had not seen Blanton for about two days before her body was found.

"She's just a good lady, a woman that you would want as a neighbor,” Hughes said.

The investigation began when an off-duty Cleveland County sheriff's deputy found Blanton's SUV parked in his driveway.

The driver's door was ajar and the engine was still running. He found out that the vehicle was registered to Blanton, and he asked Shelby police to conduct a welfare check at her home.

They found her body in the house and determined that Sizemore stole the car.

"There was a level of betrayal in there,” said Shelby Police Chief Jeff Ledford. "There is always going to be the question of why something like this would happen. Why someone would do it."

Police said they are still working on a motive for the murder beyond the car theft.

Police are not releasing Blanton's cause of death.

Both Sanders and Sizemore were given court-appointed attorneys. They can return to court later with their attorneys and request bonds.

They are both due back in court in about three weeks.

This investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact the Shelby Police Department. If you wish to remain anonymous you can contact Crime Stoppers at 704-481-TIPS.

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