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Borders Indicted On Rape Charges

SHELBY, N.C.,None — A grand jury has returned indictments against the man accused of raping and murdering an elderly Shelby woman, but it didn't include all the charges police wanted.

Donald Borders was arrested last month and charged in connection with the death of Margaret Tessneer and police suspect he may also be responsible for the deaths of two other women.

However, the grand jury only indicted Borders on breaking and entering and rape charges, and delayed the murder indictment. The families of the victims are frustrated.

Becky Fisher, niece of possible victim Lottie Ledford, said she had felt like she was nearly at the end of a 6-year ordeal and the close of her aunt's death investigation. Now she wonders how far off the end might be.

"Every night, I prayed that I would find some closure and find whoever done it," she said.

Ledford was one of three elderly women in Shelby killed in their homes. All of them lived alone, all died at about the same time and all had their phone lines cut.

The grand jury, meeting behind closed doors, agreed that Borders should face charges of breaking into Tessneer's home and raping her, but postponed the biggest charge of first-degree murder.

The reason for the delay may be in the autopsy reports for the three women. While DNA evidence linked Borders to Tessneer's rape, her cause of death was listed as undetermined. Lillian Mullinax, another of three women, had the same notation. Ledford's cause of death was listed as a heart attack.

Shelby police said they think they can still prosecute the cases, and may still consider requesting an indictment of Borders for the other two deaths.