TESTS REVEAL COCAINE IN SYSTEMS OF SLAIN COUPLE, TOXICOLOGIST SAYS

STATESVILLE

- -- Kimberly and Robin Rhyne, who were killed along with their
2-year-old son off rural Iredell County roads in January, had used
cocaine at some point shortly before their deaths, state toxicology
reports show.

Kimberly Rhyne, 28, had used cocaine within eight hours of her death,
Dr. Ruth Winecker, deputy chief of toxicology at the N.C. Medical
Examiner's Office in Chapel Hill, said Friday.

Particles found in Robin Rhyne's body show he had also used cocaine at
some point, Winecker said. She said it is impossible to say precisely
when cocaine had been ingested.

Statesville police said this week that toxicology findings on the
Rhynes wouldn't alter their investigation, which led to the arrests of
Statesville residents Justin Jamel McDonald, 20, and Russell Owen
McIntosh, 24. Both are in the Iredell County Jail without bond. Trials
have not been scheduled.

Investigators said the findings of cocaine in the Rhynes' bodies
didn't surprise them, since police had received reports of possible
drug use early on in the case. Police have repeatedly said more
arrests are possible.

McIntosh was charged in March with two counts each of first-degree
kidnapping and murder. He is accused of kidnapping and murdering
Kimberly Ann Rhyne and the Rhynes' son, Hunter Wallace Rhyne, on Jan.
19, Police Chief Steve Hampton has said.

McIntosh did not know the Rhyne family before the killings, Hampton
said, but was a close friend of McDonald, who was charged earlier in
March in the kidnapping and murder of Kimberly and Hunter. McDonald
was also charged Feb. 6 with the murder of 43-year-old Robin Rhyne.

Robin Rhyne, who drove a delivery truck for Airborne Express north of
Hickory, was last seen alive on North Tradd Street in downtown
Statesville in his red Porsche 944 on Jan. 18. He left his home, at
231 N. Lackey St., with two men that day to sell the car.

Two days later, a family friend reported that Kimberly Rhyne, a
waitress at Statesville Country Club, and Hunter were missing. Police
found their bodies on the night of Feb. 5 in woods off U.S. 21 in
north Iredell. Investigators found Robin Rhyne's body Feb. 6 in a
wooded area off Eufola Road in west Iredell.

Autopsy results show Kimberly Rhyne died from at least seven shots to
her head from a medium-caliber gun. Robin Rhyne died from four shots
to his head from a small-caliber gun, autopsy results show. Hunter
Rhyne also died from gunshots, police have said.

Autopsy results show Kimberly Rhyne died from at least seven shots to
her head from a medium-caliber gun. Robin Rhyne died from four shots
to his head from a small-caliber gun, autopsy results show. Hunter
Rhyne also died from gunshots, police have said.