No bond reduction for

suspect in 2005 murder

of ASU student
By Melanie Davis
melanie@mountaintimes.com

Matthew Brandon Dalrymple, 22, appeared in Watauga County Superior Court on Thursday, with his defense attorney requesting a bond reduction.

Dalrymple is charged with first-degree kidnapping, robbery with a dangerous weapon, felony burning of personal property, and first-degree murder in the murder of Stephen Harrington.

On Nov. 8, 2005. Harrington, 19, was found in the trunk of his Subaru with his head and arms bound with duct tape. His body was partially burned.

The state medical examiner determined the cause of death to be asphyxiation caused by the duct tape.

The murder is alleged to be a drug deal gone bad. Sources report Harrington had gone to the Poplar Grove residence for a cocaine deal.

Dalrymple, along with two co-defendants, was arrested on Nov. 9, just one day after the discovery of Harrington’s body.

Dalrymple, Kyle Tripplett, 23, and Neil Matthew Sargent, 26, initially faced the death penalty if convicted and were held without bond.

Dalrymple agreed to testify against his co-defendants on Sept. 14 in exchange for taking the death penalty off the table.

He still faces a life sentence if convicted.

Dalrymple’s bond was set at a secured $1 million at that time.

On Friday, defense attorney Scott Casey asked that Dalrymple’s bond be reduced to a secured $500,000, stating Dalrymple has ailing grandparents that he would like to see before their death as the reason behind the request.

District Court Judge James Baker denied the bond reduction based on the severity of the charges against Dalrymple.

Co-defendant Triplett went to trial in September. He entered into a plea agreement on the third day of jury selection.

Triplett pleaded guilty to second degree murder, a lesser offense, first degree kidnapping, robbery with a dangerous weapon, burning of personal property and conspiracy with Sargent to sell and/or deliver a schedule II controlled substance (cocaine).

The resulting sentence was a minimum of 40 years in prison without the possibility of parole, with a maximum of 50 years and four months.

Dalrymple and Sargent are expected to face trial in 2008, though exact dates have not been set. Both remain in custody at the Watauga County Detention Center.