Munn pleads guilty to murder of James Ellington, Nancy Alford

Yahoo

10-04-2025

Kevin Munn plead guilty Monday afternoon in Warren County Superior Court to two counts of first-degree murder.
Munn, 38, was charged in the 2017 shooting death of Vance County businessman James 'Tommy' Ellington and the home invasion and fire at the Littleton home of the Rev. John and Nancy Alford in 2018, in which Rev. Alford was severely injured and Nancy died due to inhalation and blunt force trauma.
Judge Henry W. Hight Jr. presided over the case and members of both the Ellington and Alford families were present in the Warren County courtroom on Monday. Judge Hight accepted Munn's guilty plea and sentenced him to two consecutive life terms.
As reported in the Dispatch in 2018, while Munn was not officially sentenced when first charged with the crimes, the plea agreement called for him to be sentenced as he eventually was on Monday.
Back in 2018, both the Ellington and Alford families, who initially approved the plea deal, released statements through the District Attorney's Office following Munn's guilty plea.
'While today's events will not replace the void we all feel with Tommy's loss, our prayer is that it will aid the healing process for family and friends, as well as bring more peace of mind to the community,' the Ellington family said.
Ellington was found shot dead just after 8 a.m. on Oct. 2, 2017, in front of his home on Stewart Farm Road. District Attorney Mike Waters said that Munn had been questioned previously about Ellington's death after he was seen on gas station security footage not far from Ellington's home. Munn denied any involvement at the time.
In its statement, the Alford family thanked law enforcement and prosecutors for their continued efforts and dedication to the ongoing case.
On March 9, 2018, Nancy Alford was killed in a fire at the Lake Gaston home she shared with her husband. Her death followed a home invasion in which John Alford was beaten and she was driven to their bank in Roanoke Rapids and forced to withdraw money.
Munn was apprehended in Warren County on March 13, 2018 after he was pulled over for speeding. According to Waters, Munn was taken in for questioning where he admitted responsibility in the deaths of both Nancy Alford and Ellington.
Both Munn and John Alford identified Lester Kearney as the second suspect in the death of Nancy Alford. While Kearney has been charged with first-degree murder in Nancy Alford's death, he has not yet been charged with any involvement in Ellington's death. However, Waters said that Munn has also implicated Kearney in Ellington's death.
As reported on Monday by the Warren Record, a capital, or potential death penalty, trial for Kearney was held in Warren County Superior Court in the spring of 2022. However, a mistrial was declared because the jury could not reach a unanimous verdict.
Kearney entered an Alford Plea to second-degree murder and other charges in October 2022. The plea means that a defendant does not admit guilt to a particular charge, but that the prosecution could probably prove the charge.
Kearney's Alford Plea covered the charges of second-degree murder, felony breaking and entering, first-degree kidnapping and conspiracy to break or enter a building to commit felony larceny. He received an active sentence of between 13.6 and 17.4 years.