Trio Enter Pleas Of Concealing Death In Burke County

Three individuals arrested by Burke County Authorities in September of 2024 for concealing the death of Mark Dwayne Mitchell have entered guilty pleas. All three individuals list the same Pax Hill Road, Morganton, address.

According to a news release from the Burke County Sheriff’s Office, 59-year-old Robert Ford Dale, Jr., pled guilty to concealing a body and was sentenced to 89-119 months in prison. 35-year-old Rocky Lee Dale pled guilty to concealing a body and was sentenced to 72-99 months in prison. 51-year-old Lorie Knight Stevens pled guilty to concealing a body and was sentenced to 38-58 months in prison.

On August 30, 2024, the Burke County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area of Corpening Bridge Road, near the Canoe Access, in reference to a death investigation. A group of individuals kayaking on Johns River said that they had found human remains near the Corpening Bridge.

Further investigation led to the Burke County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division executing a search warrant at an address on Pax Hill Road in Morganton. As a result of the search warrant, Robert Dale Ford, Rocky Lee Dale, and Lorie Knight Stephens were taken into custody.

Story: Rob Eastwood-WHKY