Garner Police have charged a local man for allegedly killing his next door neighbor early Saturday morning. According to police reports, officers had initially responded to an 'unknown nature' 911 call for service around 3:15am. While checking the neighborhood, police were directed to 101 Madrid Court where they found Amanda R. Maynard. Maynard, 15, was inside the house and appeared to have died after being struck more than once with a sharp instrument. The medical examiner's office must perform an autopsy to determine the official cause of death.

Officers immediately secured the crime scene. A neighborhood and area canvass for witnesses and evidence was conducted. Garner Police investigators, along with the SBI and CCBI crime scene technicians were also called in to assist.

Interviews and other evidence collected led police to question Kenneth R. O'Neal. O'Neal, 19, was interviewed and charged with murder, first degree burglary and sexual assault by mid afternoon. O'Neal lived at 102 Madrid Court, directly across the street from 101, the victim's address.  

For more information, contact Jon Blum at 919.524.2191.   

Kenneth ONeal