Judge denies bond in murder, kidnapping case

CATAWBA COUNTY, N.C. — The man accused of kidnapping and killing a woman eventually hit by a truck was in court Friday.

Aaron Compton Jr. went before a Catawba County judge. The judge set no bond on the murder charge and asked Compton if he needed a court-appointed lawyer.

Prosecutors said Compton broke into his ex-girlfriend Tabitha Heavner's home in Newton and forced her into his car.

They said she tried to escape and jumped out of the moving vehicle on Highway 321 south near Interstate 85 in Gaston County.

They believe Compton got out and stabbed her and that several vehicles, including a truck, hit Heavner, killing her.

A group of her family and friends came to the courtroom to see Compton. One relative held up a picture of Heavner in court. The judge said that was "inappropriate" and asked him to please put it down.

"If you want to know something about Tabitha, call Pastor Geary. He's the pastor of our church. She was a good, God-fearing woman, and the best person to talk to would be him," said Heavner's daughter's friend after court.

Channel 9 did speak with him.

"Words can't describe it. Words can't describe it," said Geary Walton.

He used to be a state trooper, so he may be more used to tragedy than the average person, but not in this case.

"We don't know why these things happen. We can ask why all day long. Today, she's in heaven with our Lord. She has a full head of hair and a brand new body," Walton said.

WSOC also found out Compton was convicted of second-degree rape in the 1990s. He served roughly three years behind bars.