Deputies confirm 2023 homicide victim’s wife died in Beaufort County home

BEAUFORT COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) - Beaufort County deputies confirm that the wife of a 2023 homicide was found dead in her home yesterday.

The sheriff’s office says a death investigation is underway after 46-year-old Michelle Bell was found unresponsive at her home on Robersonville Road outside of Washington.

Deputies and personnel from Beaufort County EMS, Chocowinity EMS, and Clark’s Neck Fire Department provided life-saving measures, but Bell passed away.

They say her cause of death is still undetermined, pending results from the medical examiner’s office.

It was back in May of 2023 that deputies say 52-year-old Billy Joe Bell was shot to death at the same home.

Deputies were called about a man with a gunshot wound shortly after 8:30 a.m. on May 22nd.

So far, deputies have not released any information on who may have killed the husband or a possible motive.

Records show he owned Bell Trucking Company in Washington.