A Cherokee County man is behind bars this week after deputies say he attacked a woman with a knife, pointed a gun at her, and strangled her during a violent early morning assault.
Suspect Was Out on Bond From Previous Charge
The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office says the incident happened in the early morning hours of July 31 in Murphy, North Carolina. According to investigators, a female victim came forward and reported that she had been violently assaulted by Justin Harrison Eugene Mayner. The woman told deputies that Mayner pointed a firearm at her, cut her with a knife, and strangled her during the attack.
What makes the case even more troubling is the timing. Mayner had only recently walked out of the Cherokee County Detention Center after posting bond on a separate property crime charge. Just days later, he was back in handcuffs, this time facing far more serious accusations.
Deputies say investigators moved quickly once the report came in, immediately opening an investigation and gathering evidence connected to the assault.
Search Warrant Leads to Arrest at Murphy Camper
By early afternoon that same day, narcotics agents with the Sheriff’s Office had tracked Mayner down. Around 1:40 p.m., agents executed a search warrant at a camper in the Murphy community and took him into custody without further incident.
Mayner now faces a lengthy list of charges, including felony assault by strangulation, assault with a deadly weapon, assault by pointing a gun, and misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. He is currently being held without bond, and his next scheduled court appearance is set for August 11.
Sheriff Chris Wood praised the fast work of the deputies and agents who handled the case, saying it likely prevented a far worse outcome.
“Domestic violence is a serious issue that we take very seriously at the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office,” Wood said. He added that resources are available for victims and that his office stands ready to help anyone in a similar situation. Wood also said he was thankful the assault did not end in tragedy.
As with any pending case, Mayner is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty in a court of law.
The case remains active, and it is not yet clear whether additional charges could be filed as the investigation continues. Cherokee County authorities have not released further details about the relationship between Mayner and the victim, or about the earlier property offense that had landed him in jail before his release on bond.
