Staff report
Three people charged in the murder of Salisbury dentist Dr. James David Boyd will soon find out if they could face the death penalty.
Candice Drye, 23, of Mocksville, Christopher Boyd, 21, of 873 Oakwood Villa Drive, Kannapolis (no relation to the victim), and Jonathan Alexander Barnett, 18, of 6276 Old Salisbury Road, Kannapolis, are scheduled to be arraigned in Rowan County Superior Court starting this week.
They are being held without bond in the Rowan County Detention Center on first-degree murder charges.
Dr. Boyd, 47, died of strangulation at his home at 9 Pine Tree Road on June 26. He was found with his hands and feet bound.
Boyd had been under investigation by the State Bureau of Investigation for illegally distributing drugs and exchanging drugs for sexual favors, according to an affidavit filed in the case.
Family members of those charged and police have said Drye was addicted to hydrocodone.
District Attorney Bill Kenerly said Sunday that he expects to conduct arraignments and Rule 24 hearings for Drye and Barnett this week.
The hearing for Boyd will be held the following week, since his attorney is on vacation.
Rule 24 refers to the requirement that within 45 days of indictment, the district attorney has to announce whether he will seek the death penalty.
Kenerly said he will announce his intention on the death penalty at those hearings.