Tearjerking Story of How a Beloved, Elderly NC Couple was Gunned Down By Their Own Relative

Around this time, North Carolina couple Mr. and Mrs. Powell might have been preparing their home for Thanksgiving or making plans to visit family for the holidays. However, those moments were robbed from them by one of their own family members, police claim.

Michael Powell, 72, and his wife Carolyn, 70, were known to be pillars of the Gaston community in North Carolina . They were faithful members of Cool Spring Missionary Baptist Church for over 50 years, Mr. Powell being a choir singer, per WRAL News . Rev. Travis Judkins described Mr. Powell as a joyful, humble man of quiet dignity and said Carolyn was a loving, witty person who absolutely adored her husband, per CBS17 . Together, they were a powerful and positive force.

"They had the ability that often times entering a room although not saying much they could change the atmosphere for the better," said Rev. Judkins to WRAL.

However, last Sunday, Mr. Powell was missing from the choir stand and his wife was not sat in her typical pew. Days prior, on Nov. 7, the Northamption County Sheriff's Office responded to their residence after reports of a shooting. The couple was found dead on their front yard with gunshot wounds to the head. Authorities determined they were shot at point blank range . Police found the suspect stole their truck and fled the scene.

The following day, sheriff's deputies located the truck at a hotel parking lot in Roanoke Rapids where they arrested 35-year-old Ryvaries Butcher. It is still unclear what the motive was behind the shooting . However, the sheriff's office discovered through their investigation that Butcher was a close neighbor and relative to the victims.

He's been charged with first-degree murder and motor vehicle larceny. He's due in court on Nov. 19.

"My thoughts, prayers, and heartfelt sincerity goes out to the family of the victims during this tragic time," said Sheriff J. Smith.