GREENSBORO (AP) — The family of a Greensboro man who was beaten to death and his body left in a fire say they have been told a first-degree murder charge will be dropped against a suspect because of mistakes in the investigation.
The News & Record of Greensboro reports the family of William “Billy” Hobbs Jr. got an email this week from a detective saying prosecutors likely could not defend the actions of the original detective on the case.
The detective, prosecutors and a Greensboro police spokeswoman didn’t answer the newspaper’s request for more details.
Authorities say Hobbs was beaten to death and his neck crushed in 2008. A woman was also beaten and left for dead.
Investigators arrested Michael Slagle in 2011 and charged him with first-degree murder.