Lexi Solomon

NC woman’s spent a year in jail on a murder charge. Why both sides want her out. Patricia Ayers, 32, was arrested in 2024 in her boyfriend Mikel Johnson’s death. But Durham police may have charged the wrong woman.

It's most people's worst nightmare — spending over a year in jail for a crime you didn't commit.

For one Durham woman, it's her reality. And I was the only reporter in the courtroom yesterday to find out why.

(FREE LINK)

www.newsobserver.com/news/local/c...

What a shot by @vizjourno.bsky.social in @dawnbvaughan.bsky.social @solomonlexib.bsky.social @tammygrubb.bsky.social @dmtwumasi.bsky.social si.bsky.social story.

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Hey fellow NC journos! Are you interested in meeting up with other women in journalism in our state? If so, I've got good news for you: We're hosting a networking event Jan. 25 from noon to 2 p.m. in Chapel Hill. Light refreshments will be served! DM me for the address. @nclocal.bsky.social

Johnston County man arrested after confessing to killing his 4 children, sheriff says Officials have identified the four children that Wellington Dickens III, 38, is charged with killing. They were found dead in a vehicle in his garage.

Remains of four children were thought to be in the trunk of a vehicle "for a long period of time." Just a horrific story. The latest from @solomonlexib.bsky.social.

Johnston County man arrested after confessing to killing his 4 children, sheriff says Officials have identified the four children that Wellington Dickens III, 38, is charged with killing. They were found dead in a vehicle in his garage.

Johnston County man arrested after confessing to killing his 4 children, sheriff says. Deputies found one child alive; the remains of four others were in a vehicle trunk. (Via @solomonlexib.bsky.social) www.newsobserver.com/news/local/c...

Thank you so much! I appreciate the kind words and your readership.

Many thanks to my wonderful colleagues and everyone who took the time to speak with me. My hope is this will spark a conversation about how we can better serve DV survivors in our state. One thing everyone I talked to agreed on: Something's gotta change. (6/6)

Domestic violence homicides are on the rise in NC. Could a red flag law stop it? As the state battles an increase in homicides tied to domestic violence, advocates and experts say red flag laws could help.

Finally, many legislators and advocates, including Gov. Stein, have suggested red flag laws as a possible solution. This story examines what that would look like: (5/6)

www.newsobserver.com/news/local/a...

She survived domestic violence for 11 years. In one night, he stole her future. Jill Rohner filed protective orders every year, but that didn’t stop her ex-husband from breaking into her Raleigh home with a shotgun and killing her partner.

Jill was really gracious and trusting, and I'm grateful she shared her story with me. You can read more about her below: (4/6)

www.newsobserver.com/news/local/a...

And I'm especially proud to be able to share the story of Jill Rohner, whose ex-husband broke into her home in January, fatally shooting her partner and seriously wounding a Raleigh police officer before dying in a standoff with law enforcement. (3/6)

Homicides tied to domestic violence are up in NC. What this means in the Triangle Last year saw a record high of homicides involving domestic violence in the state, one advocate said.

That series published today. It examines the data behind the increase in these murders, the story of one Raleigh survivor and one possible solution to the problem. You can read part one below: (2/6)

www.newsobserver.com/news/local/a...

I told my editor this winter I felt we were seeing a lot of murder-suicides, more than I'd ever reported on in my career. He told me I should look into it.

I'm sad to say that hunch was accurate, but it turned into a 3-part series on domestic violence homicides in NC. (1/6)

My partner has a TBI and it can be a daily battle. It was especially powerful for me hearing Officer Ainsworth speak in court today.

Story below:

www.newsobserver.com/news/local/c...

2 arrested in Mother’s Day shooting at Big Ed’s restaurant in North Raleigh Here’s what arrest warrants reveal about the Sunday morning incident.

Raleigh police arrest 2 in shooting at Big Ed's on Mother's Day. N&O reporter @solomonlexib.bsky.social has details about what happened. www.newsobserver.com/news/local/c...

Wake County’s top prosecutor won’t seek reelection. Here’s more on her decision Lorrin Freeman has served as district attorney since 2014.

Wake County’s top prosecutor won’t seek reelection. Here’s more on her decision. Lorrin Freeman, who has served as district attorney since 2014, will step down when her term ends in December 2026. (Via @solomonlexib.bsky.social) www.newsobserver.com/news/politic... #ncpol #wakepol

Court record describes night Garner mother and baby girl were kidnapped from home A newly unsealed arrest warrant offers new details about what happened after three masked intruders entered the home.

This sheds a little more light on a bizarre Garner kidnapping. But plenty of questions remain. The latest from @solomonlexib.bsky.social.

So proud of my colleagues. So grateful to the amazing people of WNC for welcoming me and my coworkers who reported from the scene. So in awe of this amazing team!!

BREAKING from me: A mom and her infant are missing from Garner after they were kidnapped at gunpoint.

Search is on for a black/dark Nissan Altima and three suspects, two men, one woman.

More below:

NC Black babies died at 3 times the rate of white infants in 2023, new report shows The 2025 annual report from the North Carolina Child Fatality Task Force shows worsening disparities in child deaths.

"Children are dying in North Carolina at the second-highest rate recorded in over a decade — and Black and American Indian youth are at special risk," according to a new report.

Details from @solomonlexib.bsky.social www.newsobserver.com/news/state/n...

Former interim ECU chancellor charged in fatal Raleigh crash with teen motorcyclist Dan Gerlach is charged with a misdemeanor after an accident where an 18-year-old was killed on Falls of Neuse Road.

Former interim ECU chancellor charged in fatal Raleigh crash with teen motorcyclist. Dan Gerlach resigned in 2019 from ECU after photos and videos were posted online showing him socializing with students at local bars. (Via @solomonlexib.bsky.social) www.newsobserver.com/news/local/c... #nced #ncpol

1 dead, at least 1 officer taken to WakeMed after shootout in south Raleigh Police report “an active police investigation” just south of the Raleigh Beltline Tuesday night.

1 dead, at least 1 police officer shot and taken to WakeMed after shootout in south Raleigh. (Via @triangleeditor.bsky.social & @solomonlexib.bsky.social) www.newsobserver.com/news/local/c...

Thanks Michael!!

How to Read an Arrest Warrant News & Observer emerging news reporter Lexi Solomon on a staple of the crime beat.

@ryanbeckwith.bsky.social is doing a great thing here, and I was happy to help out! So for those of you who haven’t experienced the joys of crime reporting before, check out some of my tips on arrest warrants:

yourfirstbyline.substack.com/p/how-to-rea...

I’m a Gen Z Journalist. My Generation Doesn’t Know What That Means. The issue isn't media mistrust, it's that no one knows what a journalist is

Member of Gen Z here, and this article is so right: So many of my peers don't know what journalism is, or should be, anyway. Question is, how do we fix that?

formulaflash.substack.com/p/im-a-gen-z...

Former police major faces felony charges involving fentanyl Former Hope Mills police major faces felony charges involving fentanyl. Is free on $10,000 bond. Next court date is in February

A wild update on the Hope Mills craziness I previously covered at CityView from my friend @paulwoolverton.bsky.social

www.cityviewnc.com/stories/form...

NC accuses 6 landlords of ‘illegally working together’ to raise rents in RealPage lawsuit An amended complaint names six landlords as defendants in ongoing litigation that North Carolina and several other states, along with the federal government, began in August.

Fun fact: I live at a Greystar property and had to pay a $700 security deposit because their AI software got confused by my offer letter having an hourly wage and assumed I didn't make enough. I wasn't allowed to resubmit a new letter. 🥲

www.newsobserver.com/news/politic...

Why yes, I am using cat sticky notes in 2025 to make sure I do my daily tasks.

Worst thing about Pamela Colloff's pieces? I have to decide whether to read it immediately or later when I can concentrate.

The correct answer is both.