By Steve Huffman
shuffman@salisburypost.com
The N.C. State Bureau of Investigation confirmed Monday that a Salisbury dentist murdered last week was under investigation for drug-related offenses.
Noel Talley, a spokeswoman for the N.C. Department of Justice, which includes the SBI, said Dr. David Boyd was being investigated for diverting prescription drugs for illegal use.
She said the investigation began June 12 and was closed with Boyd’s death last Thursday. Talley said the SBI is assisting Salisbury Police with the investigation of Boyd’s death.
Talley said the investigation of Boyd was initiated at the request of the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office. She said information that started the investigation came from a confidential source.
Talley said the SBI has a special unit that investigates the diversion of prescription drugs for illegal uses. She said members of that team were in the midst of investigating Boyd.
Rowan County Sheriff George Wilhelm said his department had asked the SBI to assist with an investigation of Boyd, but said little else about the case.
He said the ongoing nature of the investigation prevented him from saying more.
“Yes, us and the SBI were in the middle of an investigation,” Wilhelm said Monday.
Three people ó Candice Jo Drye, 23, Christopher Allen Boyd, 21, and Jonathan Alexander Barnett, 18 ó have been charged in Boyd’s murder.
Boyd, 47, was found dead with his arms and legs bound in a bedroom of his house at 9 Pine Tree Road, in the middle of the Country Club of Salisbury.