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Investigators trying to sort out details of Yadkin woman's death
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Published: July 14, 2009
YADKINVILLE - Steve Couch spent part of yesterday morning mowing the field next to the grassy slope by his mother's small house in Hamptonville.
He wanted it to look good for when she is buried there.
Deborah Greene Couch, 53, was found shot to death early Saturday. Her roommate, Kathy Lou Hart, 59, has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with her death.
Steve Couch declined to talk about the details of what happened, but said he was shocked when he got the news of his mother's death Saturday.
"It's horrible," he said, taking a break from atop the green tractor he was using to mow his mother's yard. "It's just tragic."
Deputies went to the home on Ollie Couch Road just after 1 a.m. Saturday after getting a report of a shooting.
They met Hart at the home, and when a deputy asked what was going on, Hart said "I shot her," according to a search warrant. Deborah Couch was found sitting cross-legged on a couch inside the home with what appeared to be a gunshot wound, the search warrant said.
EMS workers determined at the scene that she was dead.
Dr. Patrick Lantz, a Forsyth County medical examiner, said that an autopsy showed that Couch died from a gunshot wound to her head.
A handgun was used in the shooting, according to an incident report from the Yadkin County Sheriff's Office.
Investigators are still trying to answer questions about the shooting, including the relationship between the two women, said Yadkin County Lt. Phil Hamby.
"As with any homicide, there's a lot of follow-up to do," Hamby said.
He would not comment further on the case.
In court documents, Hart reported that she is retired and disabled and asked for a court-appointed attorney.
Couch worked for the Austin Company in Yadkinville.
Hart was being held yesterday in the Yadkin County jail with no bond allowed. Hart's next court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday.
■ Paul Garber can be reached at 727-7327 or at pgarber@wsjournal.com.
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