A triple-murderer was sentenced to three consecutive life term in Columbus County Superior Court Wednesday.
Natrell McKinnies, 30, was facing the death penalty for the murders of Diondi Sadler, De’onde Sadler, and William “June Bug” Edwards Jr. Senior Resident Superior Court Judge C. Ashley Gore handed down the sentence. McKinnies will not be eligible for parole.
District Attorney Jon David said the surviving families agreed to the life sentence.
“This resolution, approved and supported by the victim’s families, reflects their strength and desire for finality,” David said in a press release. “After thoughtful consideration, the family did not want to pursue the death penalty, seeking instead a resolution that would provide certainty and a measure of closure.”
The state was represented by ADA Michelle Morton.
Edwards was a witness to the killing of Dionde Sadler in July 2019 at the Sandy Ridge Apartments in Whiteville. McKinnies killed Edwards in a hail of gunfire in broad daylight at a Whiteville tire dealer in 2023. McKinnies was out on bond at the time, and was taklen back into custody by a SWAT team when his bond was revoked.
Edwards’ family is suing the Whiteville Police and the State Bureau of Investigation for disclosing Edwards’ name during the discovery portion of the case. McKinnies sent multiple threatening letters to Edwards while he was in jail, according to the lawsuit. Edwards had been to WPD about the letters in the days before he was killed.
McKinnies and Diondi Sadler’s twin brother De’onde allegedly argued online before McKinnies killed De’Onde as well. De’Onde Sadler and two other people died in a shooting at a Chadbourn nightspot on July 3, 2021.
“Justice in this case required accountability at the highest level,” David said, “and this outcome reflects our unwavering commitment to holding violent offenders fully accountable and working together with victim’s families to come to a resolution.”
