The cases against three individuals charged with first-degree murder in 2008 remain active in Caldwell County.

No official action was taken in the cases of Danny Ray Anderson, Barney Dunlap and Chad Pearson during the recent administrative session of Superior Court, however, each appeared before Superior Court Judge Beverly Beal. Each suspect has been scheduled to appear in court again during the week of March 1 to address any pending motions.

Anderson and Pearson, both of Lenoir, are both being defended by Hickory attorney Scott Reilly and Douglas Hall, of Morganton, has been appointed to handle Dunlap's case.

As each of the suspects remain in custody, the News-Topic decided to take a look back at the murders that happened during 2008.

Suspect: Chad Pearson, 39, of Lenoir

Victim: Irene Pearson

Date of incident: Jan. 1, 2008

Arrest date: Jan. 1, 2008

Charges: First-degree murder

Investigating officer: Caldwell County Sheriff's Office Det. Brian Bennett.

Death penalty: No

Summary of events based on court records: A 911 emergency call came in at 1:42 a.m. on New Year's Day about a shooting at 3261 Friendly Park Road, Lenoir. When officers arrived, they found Irene Pearson deceased, the victim of a gunshot wound. The call came in from Chad Pearson's mom, who is the daughter of the victim. Chad Pearson was a detention officer with the Sheriff's Office at the time. He remains in custody at the Burke County Detention Center under a $700,000 secured bond.

Suspect: Barney Dunlap, 48, of Hickory

Victim(s): Gerald Keith Lakey and Roslyn Dunlap

Date of incident: May 9, 2008

Arrest date: May 9, 2008

Charges: First-degree murder

Investigating officer: Lenoir Police Department Det. Mandy Smith.

Death penalty: No

Summary of events based on court records: LPD Patrolman Gary Dishman was parked in a parking lot at 2:41 a.m. on May 9, 2008. While there, Dunlap pulled up in a white van and approached the patrol vehicle. Dishman reported that Dunlap told him, "Officer, I just killed my wife and her boyfriend." He was immediately taken into custody and backup was called. Officers and rescue personnel responded to 828 Queens Street. When they arrived, Cpl. James Moore found Lakey unresponsive in the bedroom. Officers also found Roslyn Dunlap alive in the living room with a gunshot wound to her upper abdomen area. Roslyn Dunlap was rushed to Caldwell Memorial Hospital and she died the follow morning at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.

Suspect: Danny Ray Anderson

Victim: Vivian C. Kincaid

Date of incident: May 24, 1008

Arrest date: May 24, 2008

Charges: First-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a felon.

Investigating officer: LPD Det. Daryl Cornett

Death penalty: No

Summary of events based on court records: On May 24, 2008 at about 1:41 p.m., the Lenoir Police Department received a call for a domestic dispute at 118 Carolina Drive and reports that one individual had been shot in the head. The document reads that an unknown female caller said that the man who lived under the house had shot the lady in the head outside and was trying to get in the house to shoot them because he was drunk and begging for officers to arrive quickly. Officers arrived and secured the scene.

Reports show that Dunlap also was charged with possession of a firearm by a felon on June 2, 2008 when a search of the home was done. Anderson previously pleaded guilty to possession of a weapon of mass destruction, for which he served 36 months supervised probation.