Son charged in Johnston County death

Johnston County Sheriff's deputies arrested an elderly lady's son with her murder late Wednesday.

Annie Williams Bynum, 68, had been found slain in her home early Wednesday morning when her sister and niece came to check on her. She'd not shown up for her graveyard shift the night before at Day By Day, an addiction treatment center in Selma.

Tony Edward Bynum, 42, had been living with his mother recently. He worked at Wal-mart, family said.

Johnston County Sheriff's Lt. Chris Strickland declined to speculate on a motive or describe how Annie Williams Bynum was killed.

Tony Bynum is being held in the Johnston County jail without bond.

"I am absolutely devastated," said Cheryl Davis, a niece who called 9-11 when she noticed her aunt's door ajar and her car missing Wednesday morning. "We are so hurt. This is baffling."

Davis said she'd never known her cousin to be violent and has no idea what may have led to his arrest.

Bynum, a spunky Johnston County native, didn’t show up for her graveyard shift Tuesday night at Day by Day. 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 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 her son returned 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.