Daughter kills mom in cold blood then sticks tongue out in booking photo

August 24, 2024 Gloria Shaw

A woman from North Carolina has been arrested and charged with the first-degree murder of her mother, a crime that has shocked the local community.

40-year-old Danya Kathryn Dewey is accused of killing her 63-year-old mother, Lori Pallinger, in the home they shared in Black Mountain, a small town about 15 miles east of Asheville.

The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office reported that deputies were called to perform a wellness check at the residence on Clarks Crossing Way, located off North Carolina Highway 9, on August 22. Upon arrival, they found Pallinger deceased inside the home. Following this discovery, Dewey was quickly identified as the primary suspect.

Initially, Dewey was considered a wanted fugitive. Law enforcement released information to the public, noting that she might be driving a silver 2015 Subaru Outback with North Carolina license plate KDS-3461.

The search ended later that morning when Dewey was located by Asheville Police Department patrol officers. She was found in the vehicle but refused to exit, leading to a brief standoff with authorities before she was taken into custody without further incident.

Dewey’s booking photo, which shows her sticking out her tongue, has drawn attention for its apparent defiance, suggesting a lack of remorse or a possible mental health issue.

The formal charges against her state that she “unlawfully, willfully and feloniously did of malice aforethought kill and murder” her mother, though specifics about the crime, including the motive and the murder weapon, have not been disclosed.

As of now, Dewey is being held at the Buncombe County Detention Facility without bond. The investigation is ongoing, with law enforcement officials remaining tight-lipped about additional details.