The Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested several suspects Friday, Feb. 17 in connection with the breaking and entering and larceny of more than $500,000 in cash from William Arledge’s property.
Billy Ray Praytor, 27, of 525 Hwy. 9 North, Mill Spring was charged with felony conspiracy, felony larceny of a motor vehicle, felony breaking and entering and felony larceny, according to Polk County Sheriff Donald Hill. Praytor is still being held under a $400,000 bond, according to sheriff’s office records.
The sheriff’s office said Praytor is believed to have broken into Arledge’s building alone but other suspects have also been arrested in the case. More charges are possible for Praytor, as the sheriff’s office also said Praytor is believed to have also broken into two other Silver Creek Road properties the same night as Arledge’s, which occurred on Jan. 23.
Carla Praytor Bradley, 46, of 196 Aimes Drive, Forest City was charged with felony conspiracy and felony larceny, according to the sheriff’s office. Bradley is being held on a $300,000.
Alfred Lee Lynch, 44, of 234 Silver Plate Grill Road, Rutherfordton was charged with felony accessory after the fact and felony conspiracy, according to the sheriff’s office. Lynch is being held on a $300,000 bond.
Donna Michelle Praytor, 26, of 196 Aimes Drive, Forest City was charged with felony conspiracy and felony larceny, according to the sheriff’s office. Donna Praytor is being held under a $300,000 bond.
Eric Goode, 40, of 196 Elms Drive, Forest City was arrested and charged with felony larceny of a motor vehicle, according to the sheriff’s office. Goode was given a $2,000 bond.
The sheriff’s office has been investigating three break-ins that occurred sometime during the night of Jan. 23 along Silver Creek Road in Mill Spring. One of the break-ins was at Arledge’s building, where more than $500,000 in cash was taken from a safe; guns, ammunition and Arledge’s work truck were also taken. The truck was found abandoned the next day, along with a small amount of the cash, along the Polk/Rutherford County line.
Billy Ray Praytor was apprehended in Rutherford County late Thursday night, Feb. 16 after being spotted walking near Isothermal Community College (ICC) in Spindale, Hill said. A Polk County deputy chased Praytor, then a foot pursuit ensued and Praytor was arrested on the roof of a building at ICC, Hill said. The sheriff’s office found Praytor following information from a confidential informant.
Arledge offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. It is not yet known whether anyone will receive the award nor how much of the cash has been recovered.
The sheriff’s office was assisted in the case by the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office, the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) and the Spindale Police Department.
All suspects have made their first appearances in court. The next court dates were not known as of press time.