Death penalty dropped in 2017 Charlotte murder case over COVID-19 concerns

CHARLOTTE — Mecklenburg County dropped its only death penalty case on Thursday due to COVID-19 concerns, according to The Charlotte Observer.

The District Attorney’s Office dropped its capital murder charge against Curtis Atkinson Jr., who is accused of the 2017 shooting and stabbing deaths of his parents, Ruby and Curtis Sr. The Atkinsons were found dead in their home days later.

Atkinson Jr., 41, will now be tried in May on a first-degree murder charge. If he’s convicted, he faces a mandatory life sentence. Death row is now off the table.

The change comes five years after the killings. Assistant District Attorney Jodi Anderson blamed the pandemic for the change, telling Superior Court Judge Lou Trosch that because death-penalty trials usually run on for months, there was an increased likelihood of COVID-19 related delays. Any outbreaks of the virus during the trial would indefinitely delay a verdict for Atkinson.

Anderson said the decision could help the surviving family and friends of the Atkinson victims.

“The victim’s family and this community deserve more than just hope. They deserve justice. And the state believes our decision to proceed non-capitally is the best way to timely deliver justice to this family and this community. As such, we will not be seeking the death penalty in this case,” said Anderson.

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CMPD: Overnight shooting in northeast Charlotte leaves 1 dead, 2 hurt

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