BURKE COUNTY, N.C. — A grand jury in Burke County indicted two men in September in the connection with the death of 19-year-old Dylan Deaton.
[3 arrested after man found beaten to death on side of Burke County road]
Deaton’s parents said their son had a substance abuse issue, and they hope others will learn from his death.
Deputies believe Deaton was beaten to death at a home near Icard.
He had been restrained and dumped along the side of a road two miles away near Lake Rhodhiss, according to court records.
Newly unsealed court documents revealed someone live-streamed Deaton prior to his attack and moments after he was beaten.
His family placed a small cross outside their home after his death.
“It’s terrible," neighbor Chris Simmons said. “I feel like if something like that happened, you should have been there to stop it or gotten medical help as soon as possible.”
The grand jury indicted Matthew Buckles and Tristan Shoup for the murder and charged Ryleigh Waldrop with accessory before the fact.
A search warrant revealed Deaton went to Buckles' home where meth was being used. His father said Deaton had a substance abuse issue and grew up with the men accused of killing him.
“These are people he considered friends that no matter how many times we told him to stay away from them, he would defend them,” Deaton’s father, Scott Deaton, said. “He did grow up with them playing sports together.”
Scott Deaton held a memorial in September at the Hildebran gym where they remembered the teenager, but also talked about the drug problem in the area. His hope is to organize a narcotics anonymous chapter in eastern Burke County for other young adults.
“We plan on having NA pamphlets out for anyone who does have a problem,” Scott Deaton said. “Maybe we can turn this into something positive. You don’t want this happening to someone else? No”
Scott Deaton said at this point he doesn’t want to talk with either of Deaton’s friends who were charged and added he can’t forgive them for what happened.
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Cox Media Group
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