Warrants: Suspect told girlfriend 'something bad' happened

The latest news on the search from Nov. 2.

ASHEVILLE - Two women missing since a fatal shooting Tuesday still had not been located Sunday after a fourth day of searches along the French Broad River.

Detectives believe that the disappearance of Alexandra King, 22, and Tatianna Diz, 20, is connected to a fatal shooting late Tuesday at Pisgah View Apartments. Piere Lamont Griffin II has been charged with first-degree murder in the shooting. He has been identified as a suspect in the disappearance of King and Diz, who spent time with him on the same night as the fatal shooting. Their bloodstained car was found abandoned at the river.

The Asheville Fire Department sent out a boat with a dog Sunday while searchers also scoured the river's banks. The search focused along the river from Broadway to the dam near the MSD plant in Woodfin, said Asheville Police Department spokeswoman Christina Hallingse. The search was called off for the day shortly before 4 p.m. "Investigators continue to collect and analyze evidence and follow up on leads," Hallingse said.

The women drove King's car about 10 p.m. Tuesday from their apartment in the Canterbury Heights complex in northwest Asheville to take Griffin, 22, to Deaverview Apartments, according to a search warrant written by Detective John Ledford with the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office.

They were traveling with Griffin for a drug deal, according to the warrant.

The vehicle was found abandoned and bloodied Wednesday morning on the west side of the Craven Street bridge, a bullet hole in the passenger seat headrest, the windows broken, according to the search warrant.

No trace of the women has appeared since.

Late Friday, police said a shooting occurred "in or around" the 1988 blue Volkswagen Jetta on Tuesday evening. It is not known where the shooting took place or who was involved.

Authorities have searched the French Broad River by boat and helicopter since Thursday for clues in the disappearance. The search Friday spanned the Haywood Road bridge to the dam in Woodfin.

The search resumed around 10 a.m. Saturday with two boats and 10 officials, focusing on the area from the Jean Webb bridge to Grainger Industrial Supply at Broadway. It ended around 3:15 p.m.

"We didn't find anything while we were down there," Asheville Fire Department Battalion Chief Larry Morrow said. "No signs of anything."

He said crews could search until nightfall, but "had finished what (Asheville police) wanted us to search."

After heavy rain early this week, the French Broad is flowing higher than normal, on Friday flowing at about 5,000 cubic feet per second compared with a typical reading of 1,500 cubic feet per second. Waters are muddier because of sediment washing in and also moving more quickly, said Riverkeeper Hartwell Carson. It was overcast most of Saturday.

"It's definitely bad timing for a search effort," Carson said.

Family members have said Griffin and the women were friends, but authorities have not commented on their connection.

Detectives have learned through interviews and records from King's cellphone that King and Diz were traveling with Griffin to conduct a drug deal, according to the warrant. It's not known who was intending to purchase the drugs.

Earlier Tuesday, Griffin and his girlfriend were house-sitting at another apartment in the Canterbury Heights complex, according to a second search warrant written by Detective Walt Thrower with the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office.

The girlfriend told detectives she was with Griffin that day, according to the warrant. She said Griffin left around midday and she spoke with him later, learning he was at a family member's residence at Deaverview Apartments, the warrant states.

The girlfriend told detectives she had contact with Griffin sometime after 9 p.m. Tuesday. Griffin returned to the apartment where his girlfriend was staying and told her "he had done something bad, and they needed to go," the warrant states.

She saw a white Ford Expedition running outside the residence, and decided not to go with Griffin because "she did not feel good about what was happening," the warrant states.

On Wednesday, Griffin was charged with first-degree murder in connection with the slaying of Uhon Trumanne Johnson, 31, at Pisgah View Apartments. Police said they responded to Pisgah View at 10:34 p.m. for the report of someone suffering a gunshot wound.

Johnson was pronounced dead 14 minutes after midnight at Mission Hospital, the cause a gunshot wound to the head, according to the Buncombe County medical examiner's office. His body was sent to Winston-Salem for an autopsy.

It's not clear exactly when the exchange between Griffin and his girlfriend took place.

Around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, Griffin was arrested after a three-county car chase that ended in Polk County. Griffin fled the scene at Pisgah View in the Expedition and was driving that vehicle during the chase, according to police. He was shot by two Henderson County deputies and remains in a South Carolina hospital recovering from injuries suffered in the chase, police said.

Investigators seized from the women's apartment two notes, a flashdrive, a smartphone and a plastic drawer with a green leafy substance and packaging material, according to warrants. From the girlfriend's uncle's apartment, investigators seized electronics, silver foil with burn marks and one white pill.

Family members Saturday afternoon were grieving the mystery of a "vibrant" couple who they said would always do anything for anyone.

"Tati," as she's called, is a straight-A student trying to go back to school for chemistry and pursuing spirituality, according to her mother.

"She was always trying to figure out how to get connected with God," Pamela Diz said at Pisgah View Apartments where the family was canvassing for clues Saturday. "I just talked to this whole neighborhood and everyone knew her and loved her."

King worked at Cracker Barrel. She graduated from Owen High School in Black Mountain in 2011. King's cousin, Haley Peek, described her as "brilliant," talented at chess, and hoping to become an engineer.

They've been a couple at least two years, Peek said. A "perfect" couple, King's cousin said.

TIMELINE OF EVENTS

Tuesday

10 p.m.: Alexandra King, 22, and Tatianna Diz, 20, are last seen leaving their residence at Canterbury Heights Apartments in northwest Asheville, according to their roommate. The two leave to give Pierre Lamont Griffin II, 22, a ride to Deaverview Apartments, according to a search warrant. Deaverview is less than a mile from Canterbury Heights. Griffin's girlfriend was house-sitting for her uncle in an apartment that is directly across from the one where the missing women live.

10:34 p.m.: Asheville Police Department officers respond to Pisgah View Apartments in West Asheville for the report of a victim suffering a gunshot wound. Uhon Trumanna Johnson, 31, is transported to Mission Hospital, where he later dies of his injuries, spokeswoman Christina Hallingse said. She said Johnson and Griffin were acquaintances.

Sometime later: Griffin flees the scene in the victim's white Expedition that he is driving when arrested later Tuesday, according to police. He goes to the uncle's apartment where his girlfriend is and tries to get her to leave with him. Outside is the white Expedition, according to search warrants.

11:15 p.m.: A massive multiagency vehicle chase spanning three counties ensues. Griffin is shot by two Henderson deputies in Polk County around 11:30 p.m., according to police.

Wednesday

8:03 a.m.: APD receives a call that an abandoned 1988 Volkswagen Jetta has been pushed down toward the bank of the French Broad River in the River Arts District near New Belgium Brewery. Authorities later determine this car was the one King and Diz were last seen traveling in.

9:53 a.m.: APD announces Griffin is charged with first-degree murder in connection with the Pisgah View shooting. He remains under custody in Spartanburg Regional Hospital in South Carolina, where he was transported for injuries suffered in the vehicle pursuit, police said.

11:06 a.m.: The two women are reported missing to the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office.

Thursday

9:37 a.m.: The Asheville Police Department confirms it is investigating a connection between the women and Griffin. Authorities have declined to elaborate on the connection.

11:30 a.m.: Multiple agencies hold a news conference in downtown Asheville announcing a search of the French Broad River involving boats and a helicopter. Police Chief Tammy Hooper says the women's whereabouts are unknown.

5:30 p.m.: The search is called off for the evening.

Friday

1 p.m.: The search of the river by boat and helicopter resumes.

4:30 p.m.: The search ends for the night. Nothing is found.

9 p.m.: Police confirm a shooting happened "in or around" the Jetta. Police decline to elaborate where or when the shooting happened or who was involved in the shooting. The Asheville Police Department officially takes over as the lead agency in the search.

Saturday

9 a.m.: Police say Griffin is a suspect in the missing persons case. Police further say a crime occurred in city limits.

10:30 a.m.: Two Asheville Fire Department boats return to the French Broad River. A helicopter is not deployed. The water search focuses on the area from the Jean Webb bridge to Grainger Industrial Supply at Broadway.

3 p.m.: The search concludes for the day. Nothing is found.

Sunday

Noon: The search of the French Broad River resumes with a boat and crews on the land.

4 p.m. The search is called off for the day. Nothing is found.