Local inmate sees release opposed again

A Richlands man who has spent the last 14 years in prison for the shotgun slaying of his live-in girlfriend and has been repeatedly denied parole is up again for possible release.

Carl Lee Sewell, now 41, currently housed at a work farm in Tyrrell County, was convicted in 1994 of second-degree murder in the death of Carmen Lynn Delgado, 24, earlier that the year. He was sentenced to 40 years in prison.

"He is a danger to society, " Senior Assistant District Attorney Ernie Lee wrote in a letter to the N.C. Department of Correction opposing Sewell's parole.

Sewell and his victim had been arguing for several hours the night of Jan.22, 1994, in their mobile home on Gregory Fork Road in Richlands. Delgado accused Sewell of infidelity and slapped him, according to court documents.

A short time before midnight, Delgado took a shower. While she was bathing, Sewell shot twice through the shower curtain with a 12-gauge shotgun. Bird shot ripped through her left arm, breast and abdomen, court records state.

The bird shot caused severe injuries to her liver, according to autopsy reports.

Delgado ran to a neighbor's house and banged on the front door. When the neighbors opened the door, she collapsed inside. She died in an ambulance on the way to Onslow Memorial Hospital, all according to court documents.

Sewell went to his mother's nearby house, told her what happened and then returned home. He was waiting when authorities arrived, court records state.

"I loved her to death," Sewell told his victim's family in court when he pleaded guilty to her murder.

Messages left with family members in Maryland were not immediately returned.

Sewell was sentenced to 40 years in prison on Aug. 29, 1994. He has had 10 infractions while incarcerated, with the most recent one in February. He was previously convicted of assault inflicting serious bodily injury in 1988, according to the Department of Correction.

Lee wrote the parole board stating his "office opposes early release of the defendant, Carl. Lee Sewell."

Anyone can write the Parole Commission to express an opinion about Sewell's potential parole. Send letters to the N.C. Post-Release Supervision and Parole Commission, 2020 Yonkers Road, 4222 MSC, Raleigh, N.C. 27699-4222.

Sewell's inmate number is 0363665.

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