Widow, 65, accused of killing 2 couples

[Janice]

STATESVILLE, North Carolina (AP) -- A 65-year-old woman with no known criminal record was ordered held without bond Wednesday, accused of killing two couples who owned convenience stores.

Authorities declined to discuss a motive or the specific evidence against Barbara Ann Evans.

James and Ruth Powell were found in their Union Grove, North Carolina, home on January 21, 2005. Don and Sue Barker were discovered September 15 in their home, about six miles north of Statesville.

In both instances, police said that there were no signs of forced entry or that anything of value had been taken.

James Powell was a retired convenience store owner, while Don Barker ran a store in Statesville, about 35 miles north of Charlotte.

Iredell County Sheriff Phillip Redmond said that Evans knew all four victims and that investigators "have quite a bit of forensic evidence." The sheriff's office has said the same gun was used in all the killings.

A man who answered the phone at the home of Evans' daughter, Rhonda Jones, said the family had no comment.

Marlene Barker, who is married to the Barkers' son Allen, said she did not know Evans but recognized her as a customer at her in-laws' store.

"She was in there last Thursday, after the sheriff's department had been to her house," Barker said.

Harry Frye, who lives next door to Evans in Statesville, said that police were at her home about a month ago and that she knew investigators considered her a suspect.

Evans' husband, Bill, died in 2003, Frye said.