Reand Pablo-Antonio Rivera, 27, of Fayetteville, was sentenced to serve a period of 30 to 39 years in prison for his role in the March 2016 deaths of a Claremont couple during Catawba County Superior Court on Monday, August 17, 2020.
Rivera entered a guilty plea to two counts of attempted first-degree murder, first-degree burglary and robbery with a dangerous weapon during Catawba County Superior Court on Tuesday, March 19, 2019, in front of the Honorable George C. Bell, Superior Court Judge from Mecklenburg County.
He was sentenced for those crimes on Monday by the Honorable Nathaniel J. Poovey, Superior Court Judge from Catawba County.
Rivera’s charges, plea and sentencing stem from the March 12, 2016, murders of 34-year-old Mark Anthony Wilson and 39-year-old Deidra LaCarol Ramseur at the couple’s home on Rest Home Road in Claremont.
Judge Poovey offered condolences to the families of both victims, saying, “I hope today gives you some closure, at least some amount such that you can go forward knowing this matter is behind you. I wish you God’s peace and mercy.”
Rivera addressed family members of the victims when he entered the plea, saying, “I can’t bring them back. Nothing I can say or do will bring them back. Every time I close my eyes, I relive it. I may not have killed them, but I was involved, and that makes me just as guilty.”
During Monday’s sentencing hearing, he added, “I want to apologize for what I did. I wanted no part of this. Not only have I destroyed your family, but mine.”
Defense Attorney Kenneth Snow said, “He made a big mistake that is very costly. He takes full responsibility for his actions. He doesn’t blame anyone else for this. He understands one day he’ll leave prison, but hopefully he’ll leave a better man.”
Autopsy findings show that Ramseur died as a result of a shotgun blast to the head. Wilson died from gunshot wounds to the neck and head from a shotgun and 9-millimeter handgun.
As part of his plea agreement, Rivera’s sentencing was delayed so he could be interviewed by investigators regarding his involvement in the planning and execution of the burglary, robbery and murder of the victims. He also agreed to provide truthful testimony against co-defendants in the double homicide.
Rivera was one of four men who broke into the residence seeking money and drugs. He held Wilson at gunpoint. When Wilson made a move to retrieve a gun, Rivera shot him multiple times with a 9-millimeter handgun, though the shots he fired are not believed to be the fatal ones.
Ramseur’s mother, Teresa Rippy, addressed the Court and defendant. She said, “Not only did you hurt us, but you hurt your parents. We all are suffering. We all need to pay for what we do in this life; we reap what we sow. But I’m a child of God, and I do forgive you.”
Rivera is one of five co-defendants linked to the shooting deaths of Wilson and Ramseur. Two of the other co-defendants – Arsenio DeWayne Curtis and Jordan Alexander Rivera – have pending court dates and are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. Two other co-defendants – Devin Maurice Ussery and William Crawford Powell Jr. – also have pleaded guilty and been sentenced.
“Our sentiments continue to be with the families of Deidra Ramseur and Mark Wilson,” Catawba County Sheriff Don Brown said. “As these cases are resolved, we continue to be pleased with the work of our District Attorney’s Office and the SBI. Our investigative team has worked closely with the prosecutors in this case. This partnership is bringing about positive results.”
The case was investigated by the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. Assistant District Attorneys Lance Sigmon and Sean Baetjer handled prosecution for the State.
CONTACT: Nathan Key
Phone: 828-695-6193
Email: Nathan.D.Key@nccourts.org