Convicted killer charged with murder in ‘particularly brutal attack’ in Orange County

Orange County sheriff’s deputies charged a 55-year-old man with murder Monday in a stabbing attack that left a woman dead and her son seriously wounded.

Edward Eugene Snipes, who spent more than 14 years in prison for second-degree murder, was arrested in Galax, Va., after the Sunday night stabbing that killed Jennifer McFalls, 54.

She was found dead at the door to her home off Tucker’s Trail, sheriff’s spokesperson Alicia Stemper said in a news release. McFalls’ son Lakota Franklin, 22, was stabbed several times. Robbery is the suspected motive, the release stated.

“This was a particularly brutal attack with obvious signs of a struggle,” Sheriff Charles Blackwood said in a news release.

Snipes is described as a longtime family acquaintance. Prison records show he was convicted of second-degree murder in 2005 and was released from prison last year.

Franklin managed to run to a neighbor’s home for help after being stabbed, police said.

“Somebody needs to hurry up,” the neighbor told a 911 operator, according to a copy of the call released Monday evening.

“He’s bled a lot on my porch,” the neighbor said. “A lot, a lot of bleeding.”

Franklin had injuries to his wrist, neck and “there ain’t no telling where else,” the caller told the operator, repeatedly urging someone to hurry. He was having trouble breathing, she said.

He was taken to Duke Hospitals for treatment and asked police to return to his home to check on his mother.

Blackwood said investigators determined Snipes may have gone to Galax and issued a “Be on the Lookout” bulletin. Authorities in that area found and arrested Snipes Monday afternoon, he said in a news release.

The investigation continues. Anyone with any information is asked to call the lead investigator at 919-245-2915.

This story was originally published October 12, 2020 at 11:09 AM.