Police to set up checkpoint in Taft homicide case

RALEIGH -- Police are conducting a checkpoint and distributing flyers tonight in West Raleigh, near the home where N.C. Board of Education member Kathy Taft was found severely injured on March 6.

Emergency workers found Taft, 62, critically injured at 2710 Cartier Drive, the home of tax and divorce lawyer John Geil, with with whom she had a relationship. Police have not made any arrests in the case and have been uncharacteristically silent about their investigation.

Taft died in the intensive care unit of WakeMed on March 9. A day later, Wake County Superior Court Judge Donald Stephens sign an order to seal 911 calls, incident reports and search warrants related to the case.

Now the police are hoping the public will provide information tonight that will help them find Taft's killer.

The checkpoint will begin about 11 p.m. near the intersection of Oberlin Road and Cartier Drive, said police spokesman Jim Sughrue. Police also will hand out flyers to motorists. The checkpoint will be up about 4 hours, Sughrue said.

Anyone with information pertaining to the Taft case is asked to call the department’s Homicide Unit at 996-3555 or Raleigh CrimeStoppers at 834-HELP. A $25,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the identification and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the crime.