85-Year-Old Accused in Catawba County Murder | Greenville News

An 85-year-old man, Willard Gary Black, faces first-degree murder charges after allegedly shooting and killing his business partner, Robert Roger Arguelles, at Old Hickory Tannery in Newton on July 6, 2026. Despite the severity of the crime, prosecutors have opted against seeking the death penalty, leaving the case to proceed as a non-capital felony. Black, currently held on a $2.5 million bond, appeared in court recently, and authorities say the fatal confrontation followed an argument between the two men. The case is scheduled for further hearings in early December as the legal process continues in this high-stakes, developing story. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/c8e1b828cb7af3d4