By Shavonne Walker

shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

WOODLEAF — A 25-year-old Mocksville woman is currently in the Rowan County Detention without bond after Rowan authorities say she stabbed a man at his Woodleaf home overnight.

Satonia Yvette Gray, of the 1700 block of U.S. 601, was charged with the murder of Barry Dean Hepler, 56, of 139 Cone Drive.

Rowan officials received a 911 call at 11:50 p.m. reporting  a stabbing incident. The call came from 151 Cone Drive, where the victim’s father, Paul Dean Hepler lived, said Sheriff’s Capt. John Sifford.

Investigators and patrol officers responded to 151 Cone Drive where they discovered a deceased Barry Hepler lying on the living room floor. Hepler is known by the nickname Mater.

Sifford said Gray attacked Barry Hepler on Monday night at his home, where she sometimes stayed. Investigators went into Barry Hepler’s home and found blood on the floor and on several chairs in the living room. It’s believed the two argued.

“After being attacked, where he was stabbed multiple times, he made his way to his dad’s home,” Sifford said.

Gray was seen in the mobile home park after the attack with the knife in her hand, but she’d left before law enforcement arrived on the scene. Warrants were issued for her arrest and authorities found her vehicle at a Mocksville apartment complex and soon found her at that complex.

She was still wearing bloody clothes and she confessed, Sifford said.

Investigators say there was no romantic relationship between Gray and Hepler. Officials are still working to determine what happened to the knife. It is unclear what kind of knife Gray had.

Rowan County Sheriff’s officials were able to make an arrest with assistance from the Davie County Sheriff’s Office five hours after the incident.

Gray has one prior conviction, a misdemeanor larceny of a motor vehicle from Davie County from April 2014. Gray is expected in court for a first appearance Wednesday at 9 a.m.

Anyone with information is asked to contact First Lt. Chad Moose at 704-216-8687 or investigator Rodney Mahaley at 704-216-8711.