Charges dropped against mother, 2 others, months after man killed during home invasion

GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — Murder warrants were dropped against a young woman who spent seven months behind bars in Gaston County.

She and two others, including a juvenile, were accused of breaking into a man’s home in June, then shooting and killing him.

Now, charges have been dropped against all of them.

The only answers the district attorney gave in the dismissal form is newly discovered evidence.

Channel 9′s Ken Lemon spoke to some people who knew the victim in the case and said they are wondering what happens next.

Kenya Partlow, 21, who spent seven months in jail charged with murder, said she hopes this is justice for the victim but that she didn’t kill him. Thursday night, she hugged her daughter and son for the first time in months.

“I’m just glad to be home with my kids,” she said. “My heart feel warm. They were just so warm.”

On June 12, officers said they responded just before 12:30 a.m. to a shooting after a targeted home invasion on Raindrops Road. Once they got to the scene, they found 30-year-old Trakus Pratt shot. He was taken to a local hospital, where he died from his injuries.

Pratt’s friends said he and his fiancé had a newborn child and had only been home from the hospital for a few days when someone shot and killed him.

Partlow said she was told there was evidence showing that she, her 17-year-old cousin and Cameron Durham, 18, were responsible for the murder.

“I didn’t believe it because I knew I would do nothing like that,” she said.

She still ended up in jail, waiting for a trial that could have put her behind bars for the rest of her life. During the seven months, she missed her 2-year-old daughter’s and 1-year-old son’s birthdays. Her father also died, and she could only have a private visitation in handcuffs and shackles.

“I knew God was going to show up and show out,” Partlow said.

She said Thursday night, with no warning, the district attorney dropped the charges against all three of them.

“Our commitment to the pursuit of truth and justice require us to follow the facts of every investigation,” the district attorney said in a statement to Lemon.

She said she has no resentment toward the police and is just happy to be home.

“I hope I don’t wake up and it’s a dream,” she said. “God gave me a second chance.”

Lemon asked police for more details about the newly discovered evidence and whether it points to a new suspect but has not heard back at this point.

No other details have been released.

Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Detective Whitlock at 704-842-5123.

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