A Pinebluff man charged with killing three members of his family admitted responsibility for their deaths after surveillance footage and Flock camera data contradicted his initial account of where he was at the time of the homicides, according to the Moore County Sheriff’s Office.
The victims have been identified as Bobby Farris, 63; Christina Aggelis, 62; and Trinity Thomas, 20.
Christina Aggelis was the mother of 40-year-old Demetrius Louis Aggelis, who has been charged in connection with the deaths. Thomas was his niece and Christina Aggelis’ granddaughter. Bobby Farris was Aggelis’ stepfather, according to information released by the Sheriff’s Office.
Shortly before 8 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12, Aggelis reported that he had gone to the home at 115 Ryder Cup Boulevard in Pinebluff to pick up Farris and take him to an airport for a scheduled flight. Aggelis told authorities that when he arrived, he found all three victims unresponsive.
Moore County sheriff’s deputies, firefighters and EMS personnel responded to the home and determined that all three were dead. Authorities said their deaths appeared to be the result of homicide.
The Sheriff’s Office said Thursday that, based on observations at the scene, each of the three victims appeared to have sustained gunshot and stab-type wounds. The official cause and manner of death will be determined by the medical examiner.
Investigators began collecting evidence and working to establish a timeline of what happened.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, privately owned surveillance video recovered during the investigation appeared to show an armed person entering the victims’ home shortly after 3:30 a.m. Additional privately owned surveillance footage helped investigators determine that Aggelis had been operating a particular vehicle before the homicides were reported.
Aggelis initially told investigators that he had been at his own home, several miles away, when the armed person was seen entering the Ryder Cup Boulevard residence, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators then turned to the Flock Safety camera network to track the movements of the vehicle they had linked to Aggelis.
A Flock camera less than a mile from the crime scene captured the vehicle traveling toward the area of the victims’ home minutes before the armed person was seen entering the residence, according to investigators. The same vehicle was captured traveling away from the area minutes later.
The Sheriff’s Office said the camera evidence contradicted Aggelis’ initial account of his whereabouts.
Investigators have also recovered weapons and other evidence they believe were used in the crimes. Those items are being submitted for further examination and analysis. Authorities said Flock camera data has generated additional leads that investigators continue to pursue.
The Sheriff’s Office said Aggelis has admitted responsibility for the deaths of Farris, Christina Aggelis and Thomas.
Aggelis is charged with three counts of murder and one count of first-degree burglary. He is being held at the Moore County Detention Center without bond and is scheduled to appear in court Aug. 19.
Investigators have not announced a motive and said they are continuing to examine evidence and the circumstances surrounding the homicides before reaching a conclusion.
First responders remained at the Ryder Cup Boulevard residence throughout Wednesday, clearing the scene around 10:15 p.m., more than 14 hours after the initial response.
The investigation remains active. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Moore County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division at 910-947-2931. Anonymous tips can be submitted through the Sheriff’s Office Tip Line at 910-947-4444.
All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
A Moore County native who has spent more than 20 years telling stories across North Carolina and beyond. He’s worked with CNN, WRAL, and CBS 17, and now serves as a Video Journalist for ABC11. Patrick has a passion for breaking news and has earned multiple awards for his coverage. He’s also a certified NWS SKYWARN Storm Spotter and was among the first news videographers in the state to become an FAA-certified drone pilot.