The search for a Catawba County murder suspect continues in Transylvania County. Authorities there say unless they hear otherwise, they have no reason to believe Joey Wayne Barker has left the county. A car registered to Barker was found crashed on Old Rosman Highway early Wednesday morning. Since then, law enforcement has been searching the surrounding area and conducting checkpoints on major roads. The sheriff's office says they have discovered Barker has family in several states, including Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama. Authorities in those areas have reportedly been alerted. Transylvania County Sheriff's Office Captain Jeremy Queen told the media Wednesday, the woods are thick in the area of the crash and they called in more K-9 units to help search for Barker.
Barker is considered armed and dangerous. Have a tip? Call 911 or the Transylvania County Sheriff's Office at 828-884-3168.