Grand jury adds more charges in dentist's murder

Candice Drye outside the Rowan County Magistrate's Office. Photo by Shavonne Potts, Salisbury Post.

Christopher Boyd is escorted into the Justice Center. Photo by Shavonne Potts, Salisbury Post.

Det. Travis Shulenberger and Det. J.D. Barber escort Jonathan Barnett into the courthouse. Photo by Shavonne Potts, Salisbury Post.

By Shavonne Potts

spotts@salisburypost.com

The three people already charged with the murder of Salisbury dentist Dr. James David Boyd were informed of additional charges Friday morning based on grand jury indictments issued earlier this week.

The indictments were served, and one by one, Salisbury police detectives led Christopher Boyd, 21, Jonathan Barnett, 18, and Candice Drye, 23, from the Rowan County Detention Center to the Rowan Magistrate's Office.

"I'm innocent. I didn't do it," Drye told reporters who were there for the defendants' short walks.

When asked about the charges, Barnett also said, "Didn't do it."

Boyd made no comments.

All three are charged with first-degree burglary, felonious larceny and armed robbery. They have been in the county jail since their arrests three weeks ago.

An employee discovered the dentist's body at his home after he failed to show up for work. A preliminary autopsy revealed Boyd died by strangulation. A search warrant has revealed the dentist was trading prescription drugs to young women for sexual favors.

After Christopher Boyd, Barnett and Drye were taken back to jail, investigators discussed the additional charges during a press conference.

The burglary charges stem from the fact that they entered Boyd's home at night when he was there, explained Salisbury Police Detective J.D. Barber.

As for the larceny and armed robbery charges, police say the three took a laptop computer and digital cameras, which were worth more than $1,000, and used a weapon.

Barber did not specify what type weapon.

"They did use a weapon to obtain other items from the home of Dr. Boyd," he said.

The stolen items were recovered from an adjoining county, Barber said.

These other crimes are the underlying factor for the homicide, he said.

Investigators are not done with the case. There's still more interviews with other witnesses, Barber said.

When asked if investigators expect others to be charged, Barber said they did not know yet.

"This case will never be through until it goes to trial," he said.

All were placed under an additional $200,000 bond for the recent charges.

They've been in the jail without bond.