A 43-year-old man from North Carolina has been sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for the 2017 murder of his parents. 

The incident involved Curtis Atkinson Jr. and his girlfriend, Nikkia Cooper, who were evicted from their dwelling.

The couple made their way to Atkinson’s parents’ residence on March 30, 2017. According to details shared by the Mecklenburg County District Attorney’s Office, Atkinson’s father was subjected to an attack involving as many as 69 stab wounds. Disturbingly, the entire episode was allegedly witnessed by Atkinson’s 11-year-old niece.

In the days that followed the crime, Atkinson and Cooper chose not to leave the house, coexisting with the deceased and the young child. However, on April 2, the duo absconded to Washington, D.C., with the child in tow. Their evasion came to an end when they were captured by the Metropolitan Police Department in D.C., with Atkinson reportedly considering a ransom exchange involving his niece.

Emergency services first became aware of the tragic situation at the Atkinson residence when they responded to a fire alarm. Both victims had endured severe injuries. Ruby Atkinson suffered from gunshot wounds and had been stabbed 17 times. Curtis Atkinson Sr.’s remains exhibited advanced decomposition and broken dental features.

Upon trial, Atkinson was pronounced guilty of two first-degree murder charges and a first-degree kidnapping charge. The Superior Court Judge, Karen Eady-Williams, declared two consecutive life imprisonments for the murders and an extended sentence for the supplementary charges, summing up to 404 to 532 months.

Nikkia Cooper, implicated in the case, pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder back in 2019. Her sentences included a concurrent term for robbery.