UPDATE: Two Men Charged in the Death of Hunter From Dec 2012

UPDATE:  2/7/2014
Both men received suspended sentences and have been placed under 36 months of supervised probation, the court document shows, and Burnette was ordered into custody for 120 days, minus credit for 28 days already served.

Sanford Herald article posted 2/7/2014:



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             Lee County Sheriff Investigators arrested two men in connection with the death of Robert Mathew Devitto, the hunter who was found shot on Wildlife Game Land on Lower River Rd. on December 18, 2012. (Original post)   Investigators had been searching for a green colored Dodge truck and a white male of average height and medium build w/ reddish scruffy facial hair since January 2nd, both of which were last seen on the hunting grounds late evening on December 18th by another hunter. Yesterday investigators were lead to a 2000 Green Dodge Ram registered to George Wilburn Raines (52) of 637 Kentyrewood Farm Rd. Sanford NC. Further investigation from Raines led investigators to a nephew of Raines, Steven Cody Burnette of 41 Gravel Ln. Sanford NC. Steven Cody Burnette (23) of 41 Gravel Ln. Sanford informed investigators he had in fact hunted on the Game Lands in question on December 18th and had discharged his shotgun at what he believed to be a deer. Burnette informed investigators upon checking the area for what he shot he realized he had shot a man w/ a dog. Burnette reported to investigators he informed his uncle after they left the area that he believed he had shot another hunter, but neither took further action.
·         Steven Cody Burnette (23) of 41 Gravel Ln. Sanford was charged w/ 2nd degree Murder, he was held under no bond.
·         George Wilburn Raines (52) of 637 Kentyrewood Farm Rd. Sanford was charged w/ accessory after the fact to 2nd degree Murder; he was held under $75,000 secured bond.




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