What started as a missing person report in Greensboro has turned into a homicide case, with detectives now charging two people in the death of 39-year-old Douglas Keith Petty. Police say Petty’s body was found late last month after he was reported missing, and investigators have since filed murder and related counts against 31-year-old Mark Donovan Ray Graham and accessory charges against 40-year-old Samantha Jean-Marie Panico.
According to Greensboro police, Graham is charged with first-degree murder along with weapons and vehicle offenses, while Panico is accused of being an accessory after the fact. Authorities note both were already being held in Randolph County on separate matters when homicide warrants were served, and both are being held without bond. Records show they are expected in Guilford County court on Monday, July 6.
In an update on the investigation, the Greensboro Police Department said detectives served the arrest warrants Thursday while Graham and Panico were in Randolph County custody and that the warrants are available through Guilford County eCourts, according to the Greensboro Police Department. The post lists Graham’s counts as first-degree murder, possession of a firearm by a felon, robbery with a dangerous weapon and possession of a stolen motor vehicle, and identifies Panico as charged with accessory after the fact. Police say detectives are still chasing leads and working with partner agencies as the case moves forward.
How investigators located the victim
Officers were first called to the 1400 block of Dorsey Street to assist the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office after reports of suspicious activity. It was there, authorities say, that detectives discovered Petty’s body. He had been reported missing after he was last seen on June 16 leaving the Oakdale Mill Road area, as reported by WGHP. The sheriff’s office and Greensboro detectives are treating the case as a homicide while they continue interviewing witnesses and reviewing surveillance footage and cellphone tips.
Randolph custody and prior arrests
Before the homicide warrants were served, Randolph County officials say Graham and Panico had already been taken into custody in late June on unrelated charges. Deputies spotted a vehicle tied to a June 19 shooting and attempted a traffic stop that turned into a pursuit, ultimately leading to both being booked into the Randolph County Detention Center. The county’s news release lists charges for Graham that include felony assault with a deadly weapon and notes possession-related counts for Panico, with earlier court appearances in Randolph County. Those prior arrests and bookings are outlined in a Randolph County Sheriff’s Office news release.
What happens next
For now, both Graham and Panico remain held without bond in Randolph County, with a court appearance scheduled in Guilford County on Monday, July 6, according to the Greensboro Police Department. Investigators are still asking for help from the public and urge anyone with information, video or tips to contact Greensboro/Guilford Crime Stoppers at 336-373-1000 or submit an anonymous tip through the department’s tip portal. Authorities emphasize that the charges are allegations and that both suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
