PITT COUNTY, N.C. — A family tragedy has shaken a local community following the deaths of a couple reportedly found at their home, with their grandson now facing multiple charges, including murder. Authorities responded to the scene on Deborah Court shortly before 9:30 a.m. Wednesday after a relative contacted emergency services.
Upon arrival, deputies discovered the bodies of 73-year-old Rayfield Ruffin and his 67-year-old wife, Frances Ruffin. The circumstances surrounding their deaths are harrowing, as law enforcement officials indicated that both victims suffered blunt force trauma and knife wounds.
Investigators have arrested the couple’s grandson, 34-year-old Martinez Ruffin, who is charged with two counts of open murder and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, with a focus on inflicting serious injury. According to Sheriff Paula Dance, Martinez Ruffin was located nearby shortly after the incident, walking along the road.
A family member who discovered the victims had briefly left the residence to run an errand. Upon returning, they found the couple unresponsive and quickly called for help. The tragic occurrence escalates the distressing legacy of the residence; in a separate incident last year, a young child was accidentally shot and killed there.
In October 2024, deputies reported that a 6-year-old inadvertently shot his 5-year-old brother, Karter Rosenboro, at the same home. This previous incident has left a lingering impact on the community, and the recent events mark yet another painful chapter for the family.
Authorities continue their investigation into the circumstances surrounding this latest tragedy, and the local community reflects on the series of heartbreaking occurrences linked to the shoebox-sized neighborhood. Martinez Ruffin is expected to face a court hearing soon as legal proceedings unfold.