Iredell County man sentenced to life for murder, kidnapping

IREDELL COUNTY, N.C. — Gary Love has been convicted of murder after abusing a young teen he held captive and killing her mother in Iredell County on Dec. 26, 2016.

“I have trouble coming up with the right words to describe the seriousness of the crime the man committed,” Iredell County Maj. Andy Poteat said.

The judge handed down a life sentence Monday for Love who was also convicted of several sex crimes.

The morning after that Christmas, a 13-year-old friend received a text from the teen tied up in a home on Cool Springs Road outside of Statesville.

Deputies were called to the home to check on the teen and her mother, Robin Denman.

Love answered the door and told deputies they went to a funeral, then ran from the back of the home.

Deputies caught him and found Denman’s daughter, who hadn’t seen her mom since Christmas Eve.

Denman had been killed and was later found in the home.

The victims’ family members were in the courtroom Monday during the sentencing.

“Very somber,” Poteat said. “Very emotional because they were reliving this crime again. The pain they felt over the last two years almost to the day.”

Love pleaded guilty in court to avoid a trial and a possible death sentence.

Loves attorney said Love used to date Denman and left his family in Ohio to be with her after the two reconnected on Facebook.

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