It’s Time! Join us this Saturday at Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute from 9am-2pm as we ‘Fill the Rig’ to help ensure families have presents under the tree for their children.
We will be accepting new, unwrapped, gifts to assist those in need, and also providing a chance for children and adults alike to visit with Santa Claus and enjoy hot chocolate and candy canes!
Alternate drop off sites include all Caldwell County Emergency Services facilities and the Caldwell County Administrative offices at 905 West Ave NW.
By WSOCTV.com News Staff and Dave Faherty, wsoctv.com
BEL AIR, Md. — A Morganton woman has been charged with murder in the death of her 3-year-old son, police in Maryland said.
Investigators said the two lived in Burke County, North Carolina, but the child’s brutal death happened nearly 500 miles away Sunday in the town of Bel Air, Maryland, which is just outside of Baltimore.
According to the Bel Air Police Department, officers were called just before 5:30 a.m. to North Main Street near Ellendale Street. They were responding to a cardiac arrest call for a child.
Police said an off-duty deputy from the Harford County Sheriff’s Office was driving by and saw a woman standing in the street holding a lifeless infant. The deputy called police for help.
Gloria Elena Hughes, 37, from Morganton, has been charged with first-degree murder and child abuse resulting in death. She’s being held in Maryland at the Harford County jail.
Police are still working to determine a motive in the case.
911 call made just days before
Police in Morganton said just days before Jason’s death, they got a call from the family’s apartment along Golf Course Road. The police chief said that call came from Hughes’ boyfriend, accusing her of stealing his phone.
The chief said there was no indication the child was in danger at the time.
Neighbor Keenan Clay showed Channel 9′s Dave Faherty the pictures he took after officers arrived that day. A man had knocked on his door and asked to use his phone to call police.
“I overheard him say to police that him and I guess his wife had an altercation. That she had hit him, locked herself in the bedroom,” Clay said.
Morganton Public Safety confirmed to Faherty that Hughes was at the apartment with her boyfriend Friday evening. But according to charging documents in Maryland, at some point that weekend, the boyfriend alerted police that Hughes left with their 3-year-old son.
Investigators said she and the child traveled nearly 500 miles to Bel Air, where Hughes is accused of killing the toddler.
“Very sad case. Very evil, I’ve heard the term barbaric. It’s just awful,” said Bel Air Police Chief Chuck Moore. “We’re kind of grieving up here, the officers and everybody that’s working on the case. It kind of hits home when you have something like this.”
Police say there is surveillance video that shows Hughes attacking her son.
Clay is in disbelief over what happened. He saw the couple together with the little boy.
“They seemed pretty close. Extremely happy. They seemed really nice,” he said. “Just a normal family that just moved in.”
The chief in Morganton said the incident at the apartments Friday is being reviewed, including looking at any body camera video.
News outlets in Maryland also report that hours before Jason was killed, he was treated and released from an emergency room for ingesting a suppository.
A judge ordered Hughes to be evaluated for her competency.
Anyone with information in the case can reach out to Sgt. Henry Marchesani at hmarchesani@belairmd.org or Cpl. Sam Vivino at svivino@belairmd.org.
By WSOCTV.com News Staff and Dave Faherty, wsoctv.comDecember 05, 2023 at 5:27 pm EST
Hickory to be featured on national television show as world’s greatest city
HICKORY – The City of Hickory was selected as the “World’s Greatest City” by How 2 Media and will soon be featured on the national television series “World’s Greatest!…” airing on Bloomberg TV.
The “World’s Greatest!…” episode highlighting the City of Hickory will air Saturday, Dec. 9, and Saturday, Dec. 16, at 4 p.m. ET on Bloomberg TV.
“We were excited to be contacted and selected to appear on the “World’s Greatest!…” television show!” said Hickory Mayor Hank Guess. “Hickory’s people and close-knit sense of community make our city great. Those of us fortunate enough to live, work, and/or visit Hickory already know that Hickory is a special place. This show is a wonderful opportunity to showcase Hickory and all it has to offer to the rest of the world.”
Currently in its 18th season, “World’s Greatest!…” is a 30-minute show that is dedicated to highlighting the world’s greatest companies, products, places, and people. Each show is a fast-paced tour around the world featuring behind the scenes footage, informative interviews, and exciting visuals.
How 2 Media, the producers of the “World’s Greatest!…” television show, researched hundreds of cities around the globe and interviewed city leadership before ultimately selecting the City of Hickory to be featured.
As part of the show, How 2 Media sent a film crew to Hickory to learn about the city’s history, people, and craftsmanship, and see firsthand why Hickory is home to Life. Well Crafted.
Frank Oppizzi, senior producer for the “World’s Greatest!…” TV Show, said, “Hickory immediately captured our attention. The more we researched this city and spoke with its leaders, the more we realized this city had a unique and remarkable story to share.”
“World’s Greatest!…” Episode 357 features a 3-minute segment about the City of Hickory and includes interviews with Hickory Mayor Hank Guess, City Councilwoman and Mayor Pro Tempore Charlotte Williams, City Manager Warren Wood, and Catawba County Economic Development Corporation President Scott Millar.
To learn more about the City of Hickory, visit www.hickorync.gov or check out www.myhky.com for an interactive, virtual tour.