Edgecombe County Mayor, wife found dead at home

LEGGETT, N.C. (WTVD) –

Two people found dead during a welfare check in Edgecombe County on Thursday night were identified as mayor of a small town and his wife.

Leggett Mayor Gary Skelton and his wife, Jackie Skelton, were found dead after someone reported a welfare check after someone thought Jackie had gone missing.

Leggett City Commissioner Teresa Summerlin told Charlotte Observer that the authorities had been notified that Jackie had not been able to report for work Thursday morning at Vidant Edgecombe Hospital in Tarboro, where she was an oncology nurse.

Gary Skelton was a banker at BB & T in Rocky Mount until his retirement. He was in his second term as mayor, news collection partner ABC11 the News & Observer reported.

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The sheriff's office has suspects in custody; However, they did not say how many people were detained.

Sheriff Clee Atkinson Jr. will hold a press conference at 11 am to discuss the case.

Leggett is a city of about five dozen people.