Woman strikes with chainsaw chain, charged with assault

Tuesday, October 27, 2009 3:00 AM  |  Printer friendly version | E-mail to a friend | Staff report

The wife of a man killed in a domestic shooting last month has now been charged with felony assault in the incident.

Patty Earnhardt Elmore, 52165 Leisure Lane, was charged Oct. 20 with assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury.

Rowan County Sheriff's investigators said Elmore used a chain off a chainsaw attached to a rope to strike Tiffany Barbee.

Barbee, 21, of Statesville, had driven Billy Tommy Elmore from Statesville to his home in the Summer Place development. Officials said previously that Elmore had moved out of the house because of ongoing domestic problems. He returned that evening to get his dog.

Barbee, the girlfriend of Billy Elmore's son, was shot in the arm and Billy Elmore was shot to death.

Barbee was able to drive from the scene to the nearby Tamarac Marina where she was airlifted to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte. She was in intensive care for several days.

Robert Douglas Earnhardt, 30, also of 165 Leisure Lane, has been charged with murder in the death of Billy Tommy Elmore, his stepfather, and assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury of Barbee.

Capt. John Sifford said Barbee had injuries that indicated she was struck with the chain weapon in addition to the shotgun wound.