Woman, 68, slain, son charged in Johnston

Annie Williams Bynum prayed so long over her family's Thanksgiving feast that the turkey would be cold before they could start to eat.

On Wednesday night, it was Bynum's family who bowed in exhaustive prayers, asking God to help find the Johnston County woman's killer.

"Whoever did this should not be able to sleep at night," said Cheryl Davis, Bynum's niece, who alerted Johnston County dispatchers Wednesday morning when she noticed the door ajar at Bynum's home. "We're talking about a helpless [68-year-old] woman."

Investigators arrested Bynum's son, Tony Bynum, late Wednesday night, Johnston County Sheriff's Lt. Chris Strickland said. They've charged him with murder but declined to speculate on a motive or manner of death. Her son had moved back in with her recently. He is being held in the Johnston County jail.

Bynum didn't show up for her overnight shift Tuesday night at Day by Day, an in-patient addiction treatment center in Selma. Her co-workers fretted, knowing it wasn't like her to miss work, said Ellen Blackman, executive director of Day by Day.

They called her home and cell phone through the night, but they could not reach her.

At dawn, Day by Day staff called her sister. She and Davis went to check on Bynum at her home outside of Benson in rural southern Johnston County. Davis noticed the side door open and Bynum's car missing from the driveway. She called 911.

Bynum lost her husband, Edward Bynum Sr., about two years ago. She'd lived alone until recently.

Bynum displayed great energy for her age, her family said. She was a celebrated bowler, taking part in leagues at the Rainbow Alley in Clayton.

"She was determined that no one would outdo her in anything," Davis said.

At Day by Day, patients called her "Miss Annie," Blackman said. She worked through the night, helping patients to bed and getting them started each morning. Patients weren't always kind, Blackman said. Bynum always was.