Two Cape Carteret residents arrested in Sanford robbery

Two Cape Carteret residents are among five people charged with robbing a Sanford woman in her garage.

Michael Brandon Herring, 30, of Cape Carteret, was charged Saturday by the Sanford Police Department with first-degree burglary, robbery with a dangerous weapon, second-degree kidnapping, and assault on a female. His bond was set at $2.3 million.

Kelli Elizabeth Bennett, 28, of Cape Carteret, was charged with accessory after the fact in connection to the robbery. Her bond was set at $50,000.

Authorities say Brenda Tucker was robbed at gunpoint Nov. 14 as she got out of her car inside her garage on Cool Springs Road in Sanford. She told police that two men held her captive with a shotgun, took cash and jewelry, assaulted her and ran away.

SPD Sgt. Harold Layton told The Sanford Herald that detectives identified Herring as their suspect after two weeks of "working the case around the clock" and learned that he was headed into Sanford from Fayetteville.

"We've been speaking with several people from out of town and developed him as our suspect that way," Layton said.

Another man, Oscar Murphy Jr., 35, of Garland, was charged with accessory after the fact. Police said they were investigating whether Murphy was the second man in the robbery. His bond was set at $100,000.

Two women, Amanda Rosa Louise Taylor, 25, of Linden, and Heather Lea Lopez, 31, of White Lake, were also charged with accessory after the fact. Their bond was set at $100,000 each.

Herring has been convicted of multiple breaking and entering and larceny charges in Craven, Cumberland, Harnett, Lee, Moore, and Sampson counties.

Contact crime reporter Lindell Kay at 910-219-8456. Read Lindell's blog at http://onslowcrime.encblogs.com.