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Couple charged in vicious assault of Lincolnton store owner

LINCOLNTON, N.C. — Police have charged a couple in connection with the assault and robbery of a Lincoln County business owner.

Officials said Billy Joe Franklin III, 32, of Cherryville and Jessica Mae Nations, 27, of Gastonia, were arrested during a traffic stop in Taylorsville.

Police said the couple was driving the 2001 Honda Odyssey that had been stolen the night before from the owner of the Corner Market.

Taylorsville police said they were able to make the arrest after an off-duty Iredell County deputy spotted the stolen van being driven recklessly in town.

Officials said a check of the van revealed it was stolen and when police spoke with the people in the car, they learned of the Lincoln County charges.

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Franklin stabbed the owner of the Corner Market while Nations caused a distraction Wednesday morning at the store on Confederate Road in Lincolnton, authorities said.

At about 11:15 a.m., the couple entered the store and Nations asked to use the phone. Franklin went behind the counter and assaulted the female owner with his fist and a knife, police said.

(Franklin and Nations)

Police said the couple then left the store and Franklin returned, assaulting the owner again and stealing her Honda Odyssey.

Officials said the store owner, who was stabbed in the chest and also suffered facial injuries, was taken to Atrium-Lincoln and then transferred to Atrium-Charlotte.

Police said the store does have surveillance cameras both inside and outside of the business and have been able to recover some of the vide.

Franklin is charged with common law robbery, attempted murder, assault inflicting serious bodily injury, felony larceny, larceny, theft of a motor vehicle and conspiracy. He was also served two warrants for interfering with an electronic monitoring device. Bond for Franklin was set at $1,040,000 secured. Franklin is also being held without bond for Alexander County.

Nations is charged with accessory to attempted first-degree murder, common law robbery, felony larceny of a motor vehicle, accessory to assault inflicting serious bodily injury and misdemeanor larceny. She was also served a warrant for trafficking in stolen identities. Bond for Nations was set at $520,000 secured.

Both suspects are charged in Alexander County with possession of a stolen vehicle and identity theft by giving officers another person’s identification.

Franklin and Nations will have a first appearance hearing in Lincoln County District Court on Thursday.

The day following the attack, Channel 9's Dave Faherty spoke with several concerned customers, who were stunned by the news. 

"Real friendly lady, always carrying on a conversation," customer Dameron Ervin said. 

Another customer said the owner always looked out for her customers. 

"She was really nice. She's a nice woman. You can just tell the way she would talk with my kids. Anytime we were short change, she would let us have the items we were purchasing," the customer said. 

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