On June 10, 2020 the Honorable Gary Gavenus sentenced four people in connection to the September 2016 murder of Josh Buchanan. A total of six people have been charged. Previously Travis Bowman was found guilty of first degree murder and kidnapping and was given a life sentence without the possibility of parole. Melissa Thompson received 50 to 72 months active in the NC Department of Corrections. Kevin Scott Buchanan was sentenced to 96 to 128 months. William Peter Guttendorf received 51 to 74 months. Felica Marie Fox received 168 to 214 months.
The only remaining defendant is Regina Pittman who is Josh Buchanan’s mother. She is charged with felony accessory after the fact and is accused of helping dispose of the evidence. Buchanan’s body was found in a shallow grave on Fred Sparks Road outside of Bakersville on September 22, 2016.
