Bonds were increased Monday for a father and son jailed on charges connected to a body found in a Burke County river.
Robert Dale, 58, and Rocky Dale, 35, both of Morganton, made an appearance in court by video Monday morning after both were charged Friday with felony concealment of death and disturbing human remains, according to a release from the Burke County Sheriff’s Office.
Both were charged after the body of Mark Dwayne Mitchell, 61, of Valdese, was found in the Johns River near the canoe access at Corpening Bridge on Aug. 30, the release said. Kayakers found the body, according to the sheriff’s office.
Mitchell’s cause of death won’t be confirmed until his toxicology report is available, which could take months, said Sheriff Banks Hinceman.
Robert Dale was originally held under a $125,000 secured bond, and his son, Rocky, was being held without bond, according to court officials.
Assistant District Attorney Austin Foster asked District Court Judge Andrea Plyler to increase the bonds during court Monday morning, asking for a $500,000 secured bond for Robert Dale and a $1 million secured bond for Rocky Dale.
Foster said Rocky Dale told his wife on a recorded jail line that he planned to go to Florida if he posted bond. Foster said prosecutors believed Robert Dale could follow suit.
Rocky Dale told Plyler in court Monday that he meant he would go to Florida after the case was settled, not immediately after making bond. He also said he has been in trouble before and had no problems appearing in court on previous cases.
His criminal history includes prior convictions of second-degree burglary, possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of a schedule IV controlled substance, larceny and indecent liberty with a child, according to records from the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction.
His father has a criminal record that includes a murder conviction. Robert Dale was convicted in 1993 of second-degree murder, NCDAC records showed.
Plyler increased the bond for Robert Dale to $250,000 secured, and she increased the bond for Rocky Dale to $500,000 secured.
The Dales and co-defendant, 50-year-old Lorie Stephens, of Morganton, all will appear in court for their probable cause hearing on Sept. 30.
‘He was a good soul’
Hearing about the circumstances surrounding Mitchell’s death was a shock, said his nephew, Jason Mitchell.
He said Mark Mitchell was a social butterfly who made friends easily. He was born in Indiana and lived in Nashville for a long time before he moved to the Valdese area.
“There wasn’t anyone who didn’t like Mark,” Jason Mitchell said. “He was very likeable. He loved to have friends. Wherever he ended up, whether he was moving from town to town … he would always find a good group of friends, and he loved to be around people. … There aren’t going to be people you’re going to find that say they don’t like Mark Mitchell.”
Mark Mitchell was close with his mom, and he had hoped to visit her soon, Jason Mitchell said.
“He messaged her the day before he passed away, and the message was, ‘You are the brightest star in my sky,’” Jason Mitchell said.
He said the family is devastated by Mark Mitchell’s death and want to see justice served, he said.
“When you don’t have family and nobody’s asking about you, when you don’t have a big fancy house, people … can get marginalized,” Jason Mitchell said. “Mark’s life shouldn’t be marginalized.”
Rick Ramsey, Mark Mitchell’s boss and landlord, said he’s known him for about three years. Mark Mitchell was working for Ramsey on some of his rental properties and lived in one of Ramsey’s trailers.
“He had a good heart, and he was kind,” Ramsey said. “I’ve never seen him really, kinda, angry at people. … He was a good soul.”
Ramsey said someone stole the trailer that had Mitchell’s lawnmowers on it the same day he died.
“I felt like there was something not good going on,” Ramsey said. “How does he end up dead and somebody comes and grabs his trailer, lawnmowers and stuff? It just don’t feel right.”
He said he has a lot of questions about what happened when Mitchell died. “It’s just sad. Why someone would treat him that way, dead or alive?” Ramsey said. “It’s just a sad situation.”
Jason Mitchell said Mark Mitchell is survived by his children, his mother, a brother and nephews and nieces. He said the family plans to be involved in the court case.