Two plead guilty in 2015 murder
Two men have pleaded guilty in the 2015 murder of a woman at a Jacksonville hotel.
In Onslow County court Monday, District Attorney Ernie Lee says Justin Witt and Niklaus Froehlich pleaded guilty to respective charges of:
Second Degree Murder
Conspiracy to Committ Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon
Assault with a Deadly Weapon Inflicting Serious Injury
Second Degree Murder
Possession of Heroin
Possession of Cocaine
Possession of a Firearm by a Felon
Resist, Obstruct & Delay
Witt was sentenced to serve two consecutive sentences of a minimum 304 months and a maximum of 377 months, and a minimum of 26 months and a maximum of 44 month.
Froehlich was sentenced to serve a minimum of 206 months and a maximum of 260 months.
Amanda Joy Price was shot just before midnight on September 8, 2015 at the Baymont Inn. She later died at the hospital. A man with her at the time, Jake Moore, was also shot but survived.
At the time of the shooting, a Jacksonville Police officer responded to the call and witnessed Witt and Froehlich fleeing the scene. Both were interviewed at the time, when Froehlich claimed he went to the hotel to purchase drugs but not to hurt anyone.
While processing the scene, investigators found two firearms that appeared to have belonged to Price along with methamphetamine and other drug paraphernalia.
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Two men charged in connection with Tuesday night's deadly shooting at a Jacksonville motel made brief court appearances today.
Justin Witt is charged with actually killing Amanda Price and wounding Jacob Moore. The two Oxford, Alabama residents were found shot at the Baymont Inn on Western Boulevard around 11:45 p.m.
Witt and Niklaus Froehlich, who is charged with being an accessory after the fact to murder, went before a District Court judge late this morning.
Police haven't released a motive in the shooting, but Witt is also charged with robbery and vehicle theft, while Froehlich is facing a heroin possession charge.
Both men are convicted felons.
Records show Witt's last run-in with the law was in 2014 when he was placed on probation for a larceny conviction. He also has prior convictions for two felony B&Es, ten convictions for tampering with a motor vehicle, and a burglary conviction.
Froehlich pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in 2007 for the death of Blake Moore. He spent a year and seven months in prison.
The man also was imprisoned in 2009 for felony B&E, larceny and possessing stolen goods convictions.
Froehlich told the judge today he wants this over with as soon as possible because he plans on moving out of North Carolina.
Both men remain in jail.
Two people were shot late last night at a Jacksonville motel, and one of them has died.
Police say it happened around 11:45 p.m. at the Baymont Inn on Western Boulevard.
They found Jacob Moore, 19, and Amanda Price, 31, had been shot. The two are from Oxford, Alabama.
Police say the woman died at Onslow Memorial Hospital, while Moore was transported to Vidant Medical Center where he remains.
Officers say within minutes they were able to catch two suspects in the shooting. Justin Witt, 27, and Niklaus Froehlich, both of Hubert, have been taken into custody.
Police say the suspects and victims knew each other, but a specific motive is still under investigation.
Witt has been charged with an open count of murder, assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury with intent to kill, robbery, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and larceny of a motor vehicle. There is no bond on the murder charge, and $175,000 on the other counts.
Froehlich is charged with accessory after the fact to murder and possession of heroin. His bond was set at $75,000.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Jacksonville Police Department at (910) 455-4000.
