Wilbern Carlos Springs, 50, of Claremont, was sentenced to serve 30 to 37 years in prison following his conviction for second-degree murder during Catawba County Superior Court on Friday, May 22, 2026.
The Honorable Clifton H. Smith, Superior Court Judge from Catawba County, sentenced Springs after he entered a guilty plea for the January 6, 2024, stabbing death of 47-year-old Yolanda Lee Burrell just four days before his case was set for trial.
The defendant will serve his period of incarceration in custody of the North Carolina Division of Adult Corrections.
Officers received a call for a service on the date of the offense from the victim’s daughter that her father was standing in his mother’s doorway with a hunter’s knife in hand.
While still on the call before deputies arrived, the daughter saw the defendant leave the house, rummage through the victim’s car and return inside with something in hand. When deputies arrived, they saw Springs through a window brandishing a handgun.
The defendant refused to exit the residence for more than an hour and made a call to Burrell’s mother, admitting he killed her while offering an apology.
Deputies ended the standoff by effecting forced entry into the residence to subdue Springs.
During the standoff, he told a deputy, “Get my daughter out of here. Just kill me. I want to die,” and, “I killed her; she is dead.”
Burrell was found on the floor in the master bedroom with Springs sitting next to her. He was moving sluggishly and admitted he wounded his own wrists. A hunter’s knife covered in blood and a handgun were found near his feet.
The autopsy, conducted by Dr. Patrick E. Lantz of Wake Forest University School of Medicine, showed that Burrell suffered multiple stab wounds. One was to the left breast, puncturing the aorta and causing her death.
The parties had a history of domestic violence dating back to 2011 that included protective orders being taken out by the victim and the defendant being banned from the property in the past.
Members of Burrell’s family addressed the Court regarding the death of their loved one.
“I want the Court to know she loved being a mother. She loved being part of the community. She loved being part of the church. She worked in the community. She volunteered in the community,” her sister Lacolia Mungro said. “I don’t know how to put into words what we have lost. Our family, our community is grieving. It’s been two years, but we are still grieving. It’s been traumatic.”
Purcy Burrell, the victim’s father, also addressed the Court, saying, “I loved my child, and my child loved everybody. She was a joy.”
Anthony Stobbe handled the investigation for the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant District Attorneys Howard Wellons and Kyle Smith prosecuted the matter for the State with aid from Legal Assistant Meredith Scott.