Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05

Jurors Seated, Trial Begins in Harrington Murder Case

Story by Sam Calhoun

As of Monday morning, twelve jurors and three alternates had been chosen for the superior court trial of Neil Matthew Sargeant, 26. The trial is currently underway in Watauga County.

Sargeant is one of three men charged in the murder of ASU student Stephen William Harrington, 19, who was found dead in the trunk of his own car in Foscoe on the morning of November 8, 2005. Harrington’s body was discovered at 7:45 a.m. His arms were bound behind his back, his face was wrapped in duct tape and his body had been set aflame. The state medical examiner determined the cause of death to be asphyxiation because of the duct tape covering Harrington’s mouth and nose.

In custody since November 2005, Sargeant is charged with first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, robbery with a dangerous weapon and burning of personal property. The trial began on Monday, April 7, with jury selection. By Wednesday, eight women had been seated on the jury panel. The other four jurors and three alternates were decided upon on the morning of Monday, April 14, and the trial began.

Sargeant and two other co-defendants were charged within 24 hours of the discovery of Harrington’s body.

Kyle Quentin Triplett, 23, was the first co-defendant to stand trial. Triplett pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, robbery with a dangerous weapon, burning of personal property and conspiracy with Sargeant to sell and/or deliver cocaine. Triplett was sentenced to 40 years in prison without the possibility of parole.

More than a month ago, the third co-defendant, Matthew Brandon Dalrymple, 22, agreed to testify against his co-defendants in exchange for taking the death penalty off the table. Dalrymple will stand trial at a later and undetermined date.