Old Fort woman charged with murder in boyfriend’s shooting

Court records show Jessica Martin Blackburn remains held without bond following the Sept. 18 shooting death of Eric Jerome Ward.

By Annie Dance | WCAB News

OLD FORT, N.C. — A McDowell County woman charged with murder in the shooting death of her boyfriend remains in custody without bond following her first court appearance.

Jessica Martin Blackburn, 49, of Old Fort, is accused of killing Eric Jerome Ward, 41, during what the McDowell County Sheriff's Office described as a domestic violence-related incident Sept. 18 at a residence on Lackey Town Road.

According to the sheriff's office, McDowell County Communications received a call from one of Blackburn's relatives shortly before 4 p.m. reporting that someone had been shot at the residence.

Ward was pronounced dead at the scene after suffering a gunshot wound.

McDowell County Sheriff's Lt. Billie Brown charged Blackburn with felony murder.

According to a magistrate's order obtained by WCAB News, Blackburn is accused of unlawfully killing Ward with malice aforethought. The order was issued Sept. 18 by Magistrate Jarred Hollifield.

Blackburn made her first appearance in McDowell District Court on Sept. 21 before Judge Corey James MacKinnon.

Court records show Blackburn is represented by retained attorney Kent Brown. A release order issued following her first appearance states that her release is not authorized.

Her probable cause hearing is scheduled for Oct. 12 at the McDowell County Courthouse in Marion.

Court records (Case No. 26CR410875-580) also identify a related search warrant proceeding, Case No. 26SW000043-580.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Blackburn, like all defendants, is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.