The Burke County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s assistance in locating a suspect involved in a recent breaking and entering incident at a construction site located at 2025 Joyner Way, Morganton.
On April 23, 2025, deputies responded to a report of a break-in at the property. Upon arrival, officers met with the property owner, who provided security footage of the suspect from April 22nd at 8:27 p.m. It shows a sport utility vehicle entering the driveway of the property and the driver briefly exiting to inspect the front gate before leaving the scene. The same vehicle returned on April 23rd at approximately 12:13 a.m. The suspect exited the SUV, retrieved tools, dismantled the gate, and proceeded to enter the home through the garage, removing several items from inside. Interior surveillance footage provided a clear image of the suspect, who is described as a male in his early 40s, with brown hair, a trimmed mustache, and a goatee. At the time of the incident, he was wearing a dark blue North Face hoodie and blue jeans.
The suspect has been identified as Morris “Grady” Summerlin. During the incident, Summerlin was driving a 2002 Burgundy Honda CR-V. He was last seen operating a 2002 Green Ford F-250 traveling 18N towards Caldwell County.
Arrest warrants have been issued for Summerlin. The Burke County Sheriff’s Office urges anyone with information about his whereabouts to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 828-438-5500.
