There's been a plea deal in the death of an elderly man who was found in his apartment in 2009.
Stephen Gathercole, who also lived at Westwood Arms Apartments, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter before a judge in Craven County. First degree murder and armed robbery charges were dropped in exchange for the guilty plea.
Police say Gathercole killed 83-year-old Edwin Yarbrough last September 21st. The man's body was found in his apartment by a maintenance worker who said the victim said the name "Steve" twice. Police also found a $100 bill in Gathercole's pocket that had the victim's DNA on it.
The judge sentenced the 63-year-old man is serve at least 9-3/4 years in prison, with credit for the two years he's been in jail. Yarbrough's son, Mike, told the judge he is trying to forgive Gathercole for his dad's death, but he can't do it yet.
