Becky Nance, 55, of Bladenboro, entered a plea of second degree murder Tuesday before Superior Court Judge Reuben Young.
Nance has been incarcerated since she was arrested in February 2013 for the shooting death of her husband, Dewey Nance.
She was charged with murder in the first degree.
Testimony indicated she was suffering from a depressive disorder. Capt. Jeff Tyler, of the Bladen County Sheriff’s Department led the investigation. He told the court she was cooperative during the investigation and confessed to the killing.
Other testimony indicated she began acting differently in 2010 and 2011. Over a period of time, her mother died, her husband suffered a stroke and their used car business was not going well. She attempted to take care of all, and she was becoming depressed.
She left a note, according to Tyler, indicating she placed a gun to the back of her husband’s head and pulled the trigger. The note indicated she planned it to be a murder-suicide but decided she did not want her two children to go through a funeral for both at the same time.
Two doctors who examined her described her condition, Dr. David Stewart, a clinical psychologist with 35 years experience said the was “coming a part at the seams,” on the day of the crime.
Nance’s daughter, Andrea Davis, 38 of Bladenboro, lived across the road from her parents. She described her mom and dad as good parents. She indicated she could see her mom was becoming depressed in 2010 and 2011. She told the judge her mom and her mother were very close, and her mom had a difficult time following her death. And when her dad suffered the stroke, it was left up to her mom to take care of home and keep the business going. Her dad was not his normal self after his stroke. Davis said her mom “had a lot on her.” She said her parents were good parents and “helped many people.” She ask for a light sentence for her mom.
It was disclosed that Becky Nance attempted suicide in the 2010-2011 time frame.
The couple also had son, Jamie.
Defense Attorney Mike McGuinness presented several “mitigating factors” and ask for a sentence at the low end of the term for 2nd degree murder.
After hearing from Assistant DA Glenn E. Emery representing the prosecution and her defense lawyer, Judge Young sentenced her to 168 to 214 months in prison and gave her all the credits she had earned while incarcerated.
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