SALISBURY, N.C. -- They tied his hands and feet, then strangled him all because they thought the prominent dentist would have a lot of cash in the house.
The three responsible for the crime pleaded guilty Friday morning and learned just how much time they'll all spend behind bars for the murder of David Boyd.
Candice Drye, who reportedly traded sex for drugs from the Salisbury dentist, Jonathan Barnette and Christopher Boyd, no relation to the victim, all saw each other for the first time Friday morning in Rowan County court as they pleaded guilty to the June 2008 crime.
Prosecutors told the judge they tied the father of three up in his own bed, and tortured him for money they thought he had in the house. They took cords from electrical appliances in the house to tie him up.
“His hands were bound behind his back. His feet were crossed and bound together. His hands and feet were tied to the headboard of the bed,” said district attorney Bill Kenerly.
Also taken from inside the house, Halloween masks meant to hide their identities - but one of the defendants messed up.
“Jonathan Barnette called Christopher Boyd by name in the presence of Dr. Boyd and when Jonathan Barnette did that, Christopher Boyd said he knows my name. I have to kill him and he got on the bed behind Dr. Boyd and strangled him with a belt,” the DA told the judge.
All three apologized to the dentist's family in court.
“I hate this for your children more than anything, and I’m sorry, I’m very sorry,” Candace Drye said.
Boyd's family just nodded.
“I ask for your forgiveness, I’m sorry,” said Christopher Boyd. And the youngest of the three, Barnette, said, “If I could take it back, I would.”
Combined the three will spend almost 100 years behind bars. Christopher Boyd avoided a possible death sentence by pleading out.
