Did Vick or Bad News Kennels Murder Informant?
A dog fighter in North Carolina was found murdered in his home in April, right about the times that all of the allegations began to fly that Michael Vick was involved in dog fighting, and at the same time that Vick began to destroy his dogs to bury evidence of his involvement in the crimes. But the murder has baffled investigators. The victim, Roy Melton, likely knew his murderer, and his large sums of money and cocaine he had in his house was undisturbed. Did someone kill him to shut him up?
Now linked to a murder?
From the Daily Press here:
Federal investigators are looking into connections between trained fighting dogs bred by a man found shot to death in rural North Carolina and the dogfighting operation headed by suspended NFL quarterback Michael Vick.
The sheriff investigating the North Carolina killing said he plans to pursue links between the dogfighting groups to see if they can answer any questions in the unsolved homicide.
Roy Thomas Melton, a 38-year-old resident of Catawba County, north of Charlotte, was found in his home on April 17, dead from multiple gunshot wounds.
In the many boxes of dogfighting records Melton kept, the sheriff said, investigators found listings of the winning and losing dogs, with vicious-sounding names like Nitro. Some of the names overlapped with those listed in the July indictment against Vick and three other men, he said.
The July indictment, filed in U.S. District Court in Richmond, mentions at least two North Carolina dogs — Maniac and Trouble — that fought pit bulls owned or sponsored by Bad News Kennels.
Vick, Purnell Peace, Quanis Phillips and Tony Taylor pleaded guilty to running the dogfighting ring out of Vick’s Surry County home.
The indictment also mentions confidential “cooperating witnesses” from North Carolina who tipped off federal investigators.
Catawba County Sheriff David Huffman said federal investigators haven’t told him yet whether Melton was one of their informants.
The killing, discovered April 17 by a friend of Melton’s, has puzzled sheriff’s detectives.
There was no sign of forced entry into Melton’s home, and the pit-bull breeder was known for his strict security measures.
In addition to more than 30 pit bulls found at his home, deputies found large amounts of cocaine and large sums of money, the sheriff said.
“That’s unusual, to have a homicide like that with no robbery,” he said. “What’s the motive?”
In April, Vick and his cohorts viciously murdered at least 8 dogs in their Surry compound, using bizarre methods such as drowning and electrocution. Was this destruction of their dogs done to destroy evidence because they knew law enforcement was coming? And more importantly, who murdered Roy Melton to keep him quiet?
Killing animals is a gateway drug to killing people.
Not like this is France or anything, but I’m getting that “guilty” vibe.
Hmmmm…
Sounds like a classic case of lead poisoning, if I ever heard one.
Snoop, welcome to the blog!
I have a suspicion it was a Pirate attack since dead men tell no tales- Or is it dead dog-fighters wag no tails?
Obviously, there is a long way between suspicion and conviction, however whenever I brought up the fact that dog fighting is sociopathic and sadistic, and almost always lead people to commit other much more serious crimes, they would say something to the effect that Michael Vick isn’t going to kill anyone. Let’s hope that is right.
Mike, welcome to the blog.
I find it very hard to wrap my own mind around the possibility that Vick would be a trigger man on something like this, although he had the most to lose if he was busted. But would he direct one of his lackeys to do it?
And another thing- if the prosecution knew that a key witness was dead, do you think that affected his current plea agreement?
It is sad that everybody has a story to tell reathier it be true or not,who really knows??? This is what i know”Roy,Bud”Melton is my brother and the whole world know’s he is dead….But the only thing everybody want’s to talk about is Mickeal Vick!”WOW”…My brother was in his house and someone or more came there and “Murdered”him.I don’t care what my brother was doing he would not he would not of ever taken somebody’s life!!!!We have no right to jugde or wellinfully go around “killing” people!!This migth not matter to some people however it matters to me!People should step out side there selves and and think about how you would feel if it was someone that you loved.I have sat back for along time and read lies,differnt story’s and who know’s what,however april,17 2007 is like yesterday to me.I know that somebody somewhere know what happend to my brother.There is a reward for anyone that has information about my brother’s murder.
Maria,
Thanks for writing. I am very sorry for your loss and wish more were being done to find the person or persons responsible for his murder.
And no matter what your brother was involved in, no one had the right to kill him. I hope your family finds the justice you deserve.
This is for Snoop-diggity-DANG-dawg,
WOOOOOW!!!!!That is alot of name for one person.Your comment happens to be about my brother.I dont get people like you,we are talken about someone’s life here!!!You might not have jokes if it was someone you gave a dame about!!I can tell you put some real thought.HMMMMMMMM
Maria Melton,
We have set up a webstie regarding the life and murder of Roy “Bud” Thomas Melton. Please feel free to visit and/or comment. Thanks, Maria Melton
roybudmelton.com
If I would meet bud I will love him