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Christopher McCullough was charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder and larceny of a dog.


Raleigh man convicted of beating mom to death; will serve life in prison

a chance for for a new life. Through faith in Jesus Christ who died on the cross for our sins, we can be forgiven and receive eternal life. This means acknowledging your sin, turning away from it, and trusting in Jesus's sacr. Repentance is not just an act of remorse, but a genuine change of heart and a commitment to following God's way, and it's up to you to choose whether to accept God's offer of forgiveness. You will be in prison. I pray for the rest of your life for the brutal murder of my sister, who is so loved by. She was compassionate, loving, always thinking of others, a gift of joy to this world. While in prison, I encourage you to seek God's forgiveness and repent for this grave sin. It is up to you if you'll be damned to the fires of hell for eternity, or have eternal life with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I will continue to pray for you, Michelle Fitzgerald. Your Honor, from Chloe and mother Jennifer, they want you to know that there are moments in our lives that leave permanent scars on our hearts, our minds, and our families. That day, the day Kyland witnessed the brutal murder of his grandmother, was one of those moments. It changed everything. She was more than just his grandmother, she was a part of our daily lives. She was the one who made him feel safe, loved and protected. And now she's gone, taken from us in the most horrifying way in. Tyler saw someone who loved more than words be ripped away from them. That image will never leave him. He doesn't sleep the same, he doesn't laugh the same. There's a sadness in his eyes no child should ever carry. We can't begin to describe the helplessness we feel as a mother and grandmother, watching him try to make sense of something so cool and senseless. He asks us questions no child should ever have to ask, and we don't have the answers. A life was taken that day, a life that meant everything to us. And in that moment, something was taken from Kyland too. His sense of safety, his innocence, his ease. The trauma he carries now is one no child should bear. We live in the aftermath every single day. We carry the weight, we sit in silent shoes to fill, and we do our best to survive something that should never have happened. We ask the court to understand the depth depth of what was lost, not just the beautiful soul we bury, but the light that was dimmed in Kyland's eyes and in the hearts of. Your Honor, when I said in my closing argument, he not only killed Mary McCullough, but he killed Kyman's childhood. Um, I have spent weeks trying to get him just to talk about what happened and you know that's what I do every day, all day, and I've worked with children who witnessed trauma, who've experienced trauma, but never have I seen a child at such a young age who um was terrified to speak with me. It took him 20 minutes to come out of the tent to talk to me. Um, and speaking with Chloe and Jennifer, they said when he was in the back room, the reason he was all over the place is he was worried that the defendant would jump scare him and pop his head onto the screen. He's so hyper vigilant about everything that happens, um, and is worried, as you heard and when we did our remote testimony hearing that his mom will die and his Mimi will die and John will die and then he. Um, one of the things that struck me in preparing, um, and speaking with his therapist is she explained that one of the things about children who witnessed or experienced trauma at such a young ages, they don't know how to express it like you and I can. And she said to me something that I'll never forget, especially in dealing with any children, but. with Kyland is as he grows and is able to talk about what happened, he has to re-experience the trauma and they're just trying to have him process it. He will be in therapy for a long time and I know that Chloe and Jennifer would say that Tara has done phenomenal things with Kyland, but it's things that never should have been done. The jury heard a little bit about the defendant's criminal history, and I just handed it up to your Honor, but you can see a long pattern of assaultive behaviors starting from, um, simple assault, assault on a female in 2012, uh, assault strangulation in 2014, another assault on a female in 2017 along with this drug and alcohol-related charges. Um, your Honor. I think from John and Mary's perspective, they did everything they could do to make sure that we were never. this day and certainly not be in a courtroom where he actually killed his own mother, um, and to senselessly take it away from her, um, in the manner which she did in front of Kyland is just completely unacceptable. There is no other sentence other than life in prison without the possibility of parole, and I know that, Your Honor, but I would ask you to consider running the violation of a protective order consecutively to that. Thank you. You Yeah, we just ask that you run the protective order violation uh concurrently with the murder charge. Um, I'm appointed in this matter. I believe I have 90,91 hours in the case which I believe comes up to 7000. You will need to submit that for the Capital Defender's office and they process it and send it to me later. Um, Mr. McCulloch, is there anything you'd like to say? Uh You don't have to, but if you want to now, uh, just that I love my son, uh, Chloe and my father, and, uh, I also love my mother. That's it. OK. Um, I don't have a statue painting, uh, class is the DVD of our. All right. I understand the police, this jury had convicted, um, the defendant of first-degree murder. The only sentence authorized by law for that crime is life without the possibility of parole. So I sentenced Mr. McCulloch in um. 23 CR 391269 to life in prison without the possibility of parole. I recommend to the division of Adult Corrections that Mr. McCul received a mental health assessment and any treatment that's available to him also that he received a substance abuse assessment and any treatment available to him. Um, In 23 CR 30 excuse me, 380344. The jury having convicted Mr. McCulloch of a domestic violence protective order violation, that's a class A one felony. He's a prior record, excuse me, Class A one misleading. He's a class. He's a level 3 for sentencing purposes. Having more than 5 prior convictions. I will send him to. 150 days. In a misdemeanor confinement facility, that sentence is to run the expiration of the previous. Anything else for the for the. All right. Mr. Sheriff, yes, Your Honor. What does the appeal must appeal being entered up the court with further notice required. I'll the appellate defender to represent. the fellow man. Oh Can I do that. Oh, I see it. Yeah. Um, Mr. Sheriff, please place this session of the Wake County Criminal Superior Court into adjournment. Sign it up. All rise, please stand. Oh yes, it is. The Court is now adjourned. Sign up. God save the state dissolve the court stay. Thank you very much. Yeah.

Murder sentence: Father testifies about son's beating

Christopher McCullough

Level 1 risk: âï¸ Storms possible Friday afternoon, evening to start an active weather weekend

Level 1 risk for storms Friday, May 2, 2025

Police surround north Raleigh home to serve warrant in apparent barricade situation

Barricade at north Raleigh home

3rd person charged in kidnapping of girl and her mother from Garner home

Amber Alert in Garner

2 dead, 6 injured in wreck in multi-car wreck in Harnett Co.

Crash on NC Highway 210 in Harnett County

Authorities search for escaped inmate from Hyde Correctional Center

Francisco Cardenas

Costly gas mix-up damages over 50 cars: How 5 On Your Side got them repairs for life

Refuel gas station in Cary

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A Moore County teenager, 17-year-old Kaleb Kelly, is on the road to recovery after being shot and robbed in a parking lot incident in Aberdeen.


Moore County teen recovers after parking lot shooting; three arrests made

Kaleb Kelly

The Canes will face off against the Washington Capitals, who eliminated the Montreal Canadiens in five games on Wednesday.

Carolina Hurricanes tickets for second round of Stanley Cup playoffs go on sale Friday

Carolina Hurricanes left wing Juha Jaaska (54) celebrates his goal during the first period of a preseason NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Washington (CNN) -- The long-resilient jobs market continues to defy expectations -- even in the wake of swirling uncertainty.

The US economy added a stronger-than-expected 177,000 jobs in April

Unemployment_Benefits_05392

Triangle Food Guy Sean Lennard has the details on new restaurants opening in the area, including the return of Red Hot & Blue to Raleigh.


Foodie News: BBQ restaurant gets closer to returning to Raleigh

Barbeque Pulled Pork Sandwich

From festivals to live music, this May is going to be busy!


140+ events to check out in NC this May

May events list graphic

Clarence Roberts of Fayetteville was exonerated in 2025 after serving 12 years for a murder he did not commit, thanks to the North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission. But the commission's future is threatened by proposed state budget cuts.


As exonerated man enjoys freedom, NC Innocence Commission on the chopping block

Clarence Roberts

According to Cardinal Gibbons High School and the Diocese of Raleigh, a new Catholic high school will open to students starting in the fall of 2028 in Cary.


New Catholic high school coming to Triangle in 2028, Cardinal Gibbons says

Cardinal Gibbons High School undergoing $15M expansion

Akari Express in Raleigh's Mission Valley shopping area off of Western Boulevard had a small kitchen fire early Friday.


Mission Valley restaurant's kitchen catches fire

Akari Express fire

Private school leaders should be allowed to let teachers, parents and others carry concealed weapons on campus, North Carolina lawmakers said Thursday.

NC bills would allow concealed handguns for teachers, parents and others in private schools

A file photo of handguns.

A 2-year-old child is safe after good Samaritans discovered her walking alone alongside Denim Drive in Erwin Wednesday morning.


Father says toddler escaped from home, found later on busy road in Erwin

Erwin, North Carolina

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It doesn't matter if you're a seasoned paddler or a novice eager to dip your paddle, kayaking offers a unique way to explore Raleigh.

Explore on the water: How, where to kayak in Raleigh

Kayaking Harris Lake in Wake County

VATICAN CITY (AP) â âConclaveâ the film may have introduced moviegoers to the spectacular ritual and drama of a modern conclave, but the periodic voting to elect a new pope has been going on for centuries and created a whole genre of historical trivia.

10 fun facts about the secret voting to elect a pope

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Discover all you need to know about the 2025 graduation ceremonies for the universities in the Triangle area, including NC State, UNC, Duke and more.

2025 Triangle graduation guide: NC State, UNC, Duke and more announce commencement details

Generic graduation 

Making the playoffs consistently is exciting for Carolina Hurricanes fans for many reasons, one of them being another chance to prove they're the NHL's most authentic - and creative - tailgating experience.

Canes' top-line tailgating environment shines during playoffs

Carolina Hurricanes fans tailgate

Each week, we'll post a new weekly table of prices for 11 staple grocery items to help you compare across multiple Triangle area stores.

Where can I find the best prices on grocery staples this week?

Grocery tracker

Strawberry farms in the Triangle are now open and ready for strawberry lovers to come and fill up their buckets.



Strawberry picking near me: List of Triangle area u-pick strawberry farmsð

Fresh strawberries

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 For all the glitz and glam that give the Kentucky Derby and Churchill Downs its glory, there are a number of unsung heroes behind the scenes. Meet the team that has one of the Derby's dirtiest jobs.

Kentucky Derby's poop patrol has a dirty but important job

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Driver causes pile-up after missing exit on interstate

I-71 crash

Festival offers kids a chance to explore healthy eating, hands-on classes

The Creative Kitchen Kids Food Fest at Marbles

Film festival showcases stories of immigrants and refugees

Teen recovering after parking lot shooting; police say three people arrested

Toddler safe after leaving home, ending up along busy road in Erwin

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Two people arrested, charged in shots fired investigation in Chapel Hill

Local News

Cary P.E. teacher wins WCPSS' Teacher of the Year award, district says

A 'clean slate': Zebulon residents call for commissioners to resign

Nearly 300 students had access to porn via Snapchat, middle school principal says

Durham DA employee pleads guilty to DWI in case where his behavior stunned officers

Rubio takes on dual national security roles after embracing Trump's 'America First' vision

Nation/World

Army plans for a potential parade on Trump's birthday call for 6,600 soldiers, AP learns

Vatican firefighters install a chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel for the papal election

A US-led effort to end the war in Ukraine looks favorable to Russia, but mixed signals emerge

Drones strike ship carrying aid to Gaza, organizers say

Get ready for a weekend packed with fun and festivities across the Triangle.

Weekend best bets: Ham and Yam, Marbles food fest and more

2010 Ham & Yam Festival - Smithfield NC

'Live After 5' summer concert series to return to downtown Raleigh

Live After 5 is a four-part summer music series held in City Plaza on the third Wednesday of each month, May through August.

Ava Gardner Museum loses federal grant for preservation efforts

The Ava Gardner Festival runs from Oct. 7-9 in Smithfield.

NC State Fair unveils 2025 theme

NC State Fair logo 2025

Gipson Play Plaza to open in June

Gipson Play Plaza

Two days of food, fun and play: The Creative Kitchen Kids Food Fest at Marbles

The Creative Kitchen Kids Food Fest at Marbles 

Out & About

Fact check: Is gas $1.98 a gallon in a few states, as Donald Trump said? 

Politifact

Fact check: Is the U.S. headed for the 'largest tax increase in American history'?

Fact check: Is male college attainment hitting record lows in the U.S.?

Fact check: Did Trump reject Helene relief for North Carolina?

Explainer: Why is the bond market so important for the economy?

Political power shift on NC Elections Board takes effect

NC Capitol

NC bills progess to allow approved people to conceal carry in private schools

NC elections board switches to GOP control after court ruling. Here's who's in charge now

How schools are graded would change under bill passed by House

NC House passes ban on DEI in state agencies

Durham Public Schools names Middle College High School literary educator its teacher of the year

Education

Librarians hold town hall fighting for funding, opposing book bans

Job cuts possible at Duke to reduce spending, university says

Orange County commissioners hear two school districts budget requests

Resolution reached in cases related to deadly crash involving UNC students, football players

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More oversight for dentists? The changes that NC lawmakers are considering

'Somebody is going to get killed': College parties in Durham County field prompt neighbors' concerns

19 charged in Durham street takeover, police need help identifying others involved

'We are going to charge you': Durham police crack down on car meetups with guns, drugs and stunts

Kentucky Derby field reduced to 19 with scratch of Grande, leaving owner Mike Repole 'shocked'

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'Cardiac Pack' fights for NIL money for NCAA use of 1983 highlights

NBC's coverage of Kentucky Derby has grown and evolved as it gears up for its 25th Run for the Roses

Belichick: 'False narrative' that girlfriend was controlling CBS interview; Network says no preconditions on sitdown

UNC men's basketball to play Ohio State in December

No. 16 Pine Lake Prep wins 12th straight, claims third consecutive league title

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South Stanly hands North Stanly its first loss, takes conference tournament championship

West Rowan takes down East Rowan to win South Piedmont Conference Tournament

North Stanly softball downs rival South Stanly to win Yadkin Valley Conference tournament

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Durham County District Attorney's Office employee Josiah Wilkerson pleaded guilty Thursday to DWI and driving without insurance.

Employee of Durham County DA's office pleads gulity to DWI

Most of the cases related to the January 2024 crash that killed University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill student Molly Rotunda have been resolved in court, including one as recently as Tuesday.

Cases resolved related to deadly crash involving UNC students

Members of the North Carolina House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a bill to ban state agencies from engaging in pro-diversity efforts under the umbrella of diversity, equity and inclusion. It now goes to the Senate.

NC House passes ban on DEI policies in state agencies

North Carolina Legislative Building

Find out the apps to look for and tips to help keep your child safer online.


Keeping your child safe online: How to check their devices and what apps to look out for

File photo of cellphones in school

Senate Bill 599 would change how members of the North Carolina Dental Board, which oversees dentists in North Carolina, are selected.

State lawmakers seek more accountability for North Carolina Dental Board

A proposal moving through the state House this week would put new regulations and limitations on how and where homeless encampments would be allowed in North Carolina. 

North Carolina lawmakers debate rules for homeless encampments

NC lawmakers debate homeless encampments

WRAL Specialists

5 On Your Side gets repair coverage for drivers after fuel mixup

Recall: Ninja Foodi pressure cookers can cause burns

What to look for in your child's cellphone to make sure they are safe

DMV corrects mistake that costs drivers thousands: Find out how to get your refund

5 On Your Side

Man wrongfully convicted fighting to save Innocence Commission

Durham police charge 19 people for street take over, seek help identifying others

Durham police ask for help identifying people from February street takeover

Durham police cracking down on dangerous car meetups

Investigations

David Gardner: Is bureaucracy bad for business?

Mike Walden: Tariff discussions could turn economic outlook from concern to optimism

You decide: Who controls the Federal Reserve

Donald Thompson: Wellness programs aren't enough. Leaders must prevent stress before it starts

WRAL TechWire

Amazon posts solid first quarter earnings growth, but outlook is tempered by tariff uncertainty

Trump says it's Biden's economy, but businesses and economists beg to differ

SAS promotes 25-year leader to COO

Court sides with Fortnite maker Epic as Apple sanctioned for defying order in App Store case

Volume	21,677
Open	1.670
Bid (Size)	1.700 (100)
Ask (Size)	1.720 (3)
Prev. Close	1.670
Today's Range	1.620 - 1.711
52wk Range	1.390 - 2.200
Shares Outstanding	N/A
Dividend Yield	N/A

YTD	-15.5%	-15.5%
1 Month	+0.4%	+0.4%
3 Month	-15.5%	-15.5%
6 Month	-15.5%	-15.5%
1 Year	-15.5%	-15.5%

Whitehawk Therapeutics, Inc. - Common Stock (NQ:WHWK)

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