Bio

James Bartlett Upchurch III was born on August 17, 1968, in Caswell County, North Carolina. He was the first son of Joanne Ensley Upchurch and James Bartlett Upchurch II. James had one brother named Emory and two sisters named Carrie and Alexandra.

Growing up, James lived in a small community where he was familiar with many people. Specific details about his early childhood and family life are limited. However, it is known that he was raised in North Carolina, which played a significant role in shaping his life.

Murder Story

On July 25, 1988, in Washington, North Carolina, a crime took place that changed many lives. James Bartlett Upchurch III, along with others, was involved in the murder of Lieth Von Stein. During this event, Bonnie Von Stein was also attacked but survived. It was reported that Upchurch and his co-conspirators were motivated by the desire for Bonnie's son, Christopher Wayne Pritchard, to inherit a large estate valued at nearly two million dollars.

After the murder, Upchurch was arrested and faced serious charges. He was convicted of first-degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, conspiracy to commit murder, and first-degree burglary. On January 30, 1990, Upchurch was sentenced to death for these crimes. However, on October 1, 1992, his death sentence was set aside. Instead, he was resentenced to life in prison.

Upchurch's co-conspirators, Christopher Wayne Pritchard and Gerald Neal Henderson, were also convicted for their roles in the crime. Pritchard and Henderson received convictions for aiding and abetting murder and assault. Henderson was released on parole in December 2000 and completed it in February 2005. Pritchard was paroled in June 2007.

Upchurch was born on August 17, 1968, in Caswell County, North Carolina. He has an older brother and two sisters. Following the events surrounding the murder, two notable books were written about the case. These books were later adapted into television movies, shedding light on the crime and its outcomes.