Local

Elderly store owner choked, robbed inside Burke Co. business

MORGANTON, N.C. — A local store owner was robbed, beaten and then pinned under a dirt bike, police said.

"It makes me upset that anybody would do my dad like that," said Wanda Hershaw.

It is difficult for Hershaw to even talk about what happened to her father inside the business he has owned for more than three decades.

Deputies say 81-year old Novella Hershaw was choked and robbed of all his money as he was closing his convenience store Saturday afternoon.

Wanda found her father and called the police.

"Both of his legs were bruised up real bad. He said the guy took the motorcycle and threw it on top of him," said Wanda.

Lena Sudduth showed us the dirt bike deputies say the suspect threw on top of her father, pinning him on the ground as he stole his wallet.

Deputies said the thief was wearing a mask, but an eyewitness came forward leading to the arrest of these two men.

Investigators said William Dykes committed the robbery and Roger Harper was the getaway driver.

Both are charged with robbery with a dangerous weapon and kidnapping.

We very much wanted to talk with Novella on Monday, but we were told by family members despite his age and what happened here at his business he has a full-time job in Lenoir and he was at that job Monday.

Sudduth hopes her father gets justice in the case.

"I want to know why they would do this to my dad when he is such a good person, and he gives to everybody and it is just not right. Why didn't he ask for what he wanted? If he didn't have money my daddy would have given it to him, "said Sudduth.

Both men were jailed with bail set $75,000.

They did appear before a judge in Morganton, where they asked for court-appointed lawyers.