A 16-year-old, Star Grant, and 28-year-old Devan Loving have been charged with First-Degree Murder and Felony Conspiracy after three family members were found shot at a Fairview, North Carolina home on May 7. Deputies believe the victims—Travis Grant (41), Kimberly Grant (42) and Sharon Grant (66)—had likely been dead for days before discovery. Star was located in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, with Loving; both are in custody and will face extradition to Buncombe County. Authorities say a motive has not yet been determined.
16-Year-Old Arrested With 28-Year-Old After Three Family Members Found Shot in North Carolina Home
North Carolina home where three people were found deadCredit: FOX Carolina News
A 16-year-old girl, identified as Star Grant, and a 28-year-old man, Devan Loving, have been arrested and charged in connection with the fatal shooting of three relatives at a family home in Fairview, North Carolina.
Deputies conducting a welfare check at about 7:15 p.m. on Thursday, May 7, discovered Travis Grant, 41; his wife Kimberly Grant, 42; and 66-year-old Sharon Grant inside the residence with gunshot wounds, the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) said in a news release. Investigators believe the victims had been deceased for several days before they were found; the county Medical Examiner has not released exact times of death.
BCSO Major John Ledford confirmed at a May 8 press briefing that Star Grant was not inside the home when officers arrived. She was located the following day in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, in the company of Devan Loving. Local authorities say Gatlinburg Police and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation found the pair in a hotel room after spotting a vehicle linked to the teenager outside the building.
Both Star Grant and Devan Loving are charged with First-Degree Murder and Felony Conspiracy to Commit Murder. Star is being prosecuted as an adult, the BCSO said. Detectives from Buncombe County traveled to Gatlinburg to interview the suspects; information obtained during those interviews led to the charges, according to the sheriff's office. A formal motive has not been established.
Devan LovingCredit: Sevier County Detention Center
Relatives told the Citizen Times that Star had been involved with a man who reportedly gave her a burner phone to communicate in secret, and that Travis Grant had attempted to file a restraining order. Authorities have not publicly confirmed whether that individual is Loving.
BCSO Statement: "We would like to express our condolences to the family of these victims. We would also like to share our gratitude for our team of Patrol Deputies, Detectives, Crime Scene Investigators, and those leading these teams. Most of them have not slept because they have focused on nothing but arriving at this outcome that will hopefully bring closure to those impacted by this tragedy."
Requests for welfare checks were made on May 4 and May 6; deputies said the information available then did not justify forcing entry. Buncombe County Sheriff's Captain Dustan Auldredge explained that facts uncovered during the third welfare check on May 7 provided the exigent circumstances needed to enter the home.
After their arrests, Star Grant was held at the Sevier County Juvenile Detention Center and Loving was held by the Sevier County Sheriff's Office; both will face an extradition hearing in Tennessee before being transferred to Buncombe County. PEOPLE and local outlets report that law enforcement agencies have been contacted for further comment.
Background: Court records cited by WLOS say Travis Grant adopted Star in 2019. Investigations remain active and the Medical Examiner's Office continues to work on cause and time-of-death determinations.
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