A former police chief from North Carolina, William Spivey, has been sentenced to serve 11 to 22 years in prison after pleading guilty to 14 felonies and one misdemeanor. This sentence came as a result of his involvement in stealing drugs, guns, and cash from evidence and subsequently faking his own death during a tumultuous crime spree.
Spivey, who once headed the Chadbourn Police Department, was first charged in 2021 after authorities launched an investigation into missing evidence within the department. When questioned by district attorneys about the missing narcotics evidence, Spivey refused to cooperate, refusing to provide requested information.
The investigation escalated, leading to a search of Spivey's private office and the evidence room at the police department. During this search, authorities discovered opened and torn evidence bags, as well as evidence indicating that Spivey had taken firearms from police custody and sold them to acquaintances. Much of the missing evidence was linked to cases handled during Spivey's tenure at the department.
Spivey faced charges of mishandling evidence, drug trafficking, and embezzlement, resulting in his removal from the department in April 2021. Later, he was indicted for embezzling $8,000 intended for a family with a child suffering from leukemia. After a brief stint in jail, Spivey's bond was posted, but he faced another arrest in January 2022 for stealing catalytic converters.
By February 2022, Spivey failed to appear at a court hearing, and his attorney informed the judge that he may have gone missing or taken his own life.
A search was launched near the Lumber River in Columbus County, North Carolina, after Spivey was reported missing. Although an abandoned boat and truck, as well as a suicide note and discharged rifle, were found, evidence suggested a different story.
Dive crews searched the river, and officers used various methods to locate Spivey. Tips and surveillance footage led authorities to believe that Spivey had faked his death and staged the scene at the river. He was eventually apprehended in Loris, South Carolina, after a brief escape into the woods.
Spivey faced approximately 40 warrants for his arrest, with a total bond of nearly $1 million.
The plea agreement for the 14 felonies has resolved the legal proceedings, sparing a potentially lengthy trial. Jason Minnicozzi, the chief assistant district attorney for North Carolina, expressed hope that Spivey's sentencing would restore confidence in the community and law enforcement partners.
In another development, a recently released body camera video reveals the disturbing events leading up to the tragic death of 13-year-old Amber Archuleta. See detailed story here
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