Atwater Pleads Guilty in Carson Slaying

Posted on April 19, 2010

Demario James Atwater pleaded guilty to carjacking, kidnapping and weapons charges in federal court Monday, according to The News & Observer of Raleigh. The plea arrangement leaves Atwater, 23, facing life in prison without the possibility of parole in the killing of Eve Carson ’08 two years ago, according to a statement issued by federal prosecutors.

He still faces kidnapping and murder charges in state court and could receive the death sentence there. A hearing is tentatively scheduled for next week. Sentencing in the federal pleas is scheduled for September.

Laurence Alvin Lovette, 19, also is charged with murder and kidnapping. Lovette was 17 at the time of the crime and is exempt from the death penalty.

Investigators say Atwater and Lovette kidnapped Carson, who was student body president, from her home in Chapel Hill early on the morning on March 5, 2008, forced her to withdraw $1,400 from automated teller machines and then shot her numerous times.

According to The N&O, most of the details of the case against Atwater and Lovette are sealed.

The paper reported that the victim’s parents, Teresa and Bob Carson, released a statement: “While we deplore the evil and negligence that led to Eve’s death, we agree with the U.S. Attorney’s decision to accept the plea agreement. We are very grateful for the dedication and hard work that have gone into the investigation and prosecution of this crime.”

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More online…

• Carolina Dedicates Garden to Memory of Eve Carson
  News report from March 2010
• Ceremony Remembers, Celebrates Eve Carson
  News report from March 2009
• ‘Eve’s Mantle has Been Passed to Us’
  An In Memoriam department feature from the Carolina Alumni Review that appeared in the May/June 2008 issue. It is available online to Carolina Alumni members.
• Eve Carson’s biography
• First Eve Marie Carson Scholarship Awarded
  News report from February 2009
• Death Penalty Sought Against Carson Suspect
  News reports from August 2008
• Two Charged In Eve Carson’s Death;  Second Charged Also in Duke Killing
  News report from April 1, 2008
• Videos of “A Celebration of the Life of Eve Carson 1985-2008”
• “Born Bathed in Carolina Blue,” essay published March 19 by Wall Street Journal reporter Wendy Bounds ’93, a 2007 recipient of the GAA’s Distinguished Young Alumna Award
• Never a Stranger – Three Classmates Remember Eve Carson
• Letter from Chancellor Moeser
• Eve Carson’s student body president Web page
• Eve Carson’s campaign Web page

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