Rockingham County residents react to double homicide

Residents of Rockingham County are trying to cope with the loss of a beloved couple in the Bethany area who were killed in what deputies are calling, “a home invasion.”

 The Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office reported Saturday that Douglas Troy French, 48, and Ladonna Mosley French, 45, were both found dead in their home on 791 Pinewood Road in Reidsville. Both were suffering from gunshot wounds.

Their daughter, Whitley Morgan French, 19, a former Rockingham County High School student and current East Carolina University student, suffered from a laceration and was treated at Annie Penn Hospital before later being released.

Due to French’s connection with RCHS and her younger brother Hunter being a student at the high school, Rockingham County Schools have added grief counselors at the school. They also have psychologists for the schools on high alert, and always with their cell phones, in case students or staff members need them, according to RCS Public Information Officer Karen Hyler.

Hyler said Bethany Elementary School also has grief counselors at the school, since the French family are prominent and well-known members of the Bethany community.

Douglas French was a 22-year employee of Duke Power in Rockingham County. Davis Montgomery at Duke Power said on Sunday a couple of linemen at Duke Power placed a wreath on a flagpole in French’s honor at the company’s Reidsville office located on Freeway Drive.

Duke Power released the following statement regarding French’s death:

“We at Duke Energy are devastated by the news that one of our employees and his family were victims of this crime. Troy was a long-term employee of Duke Energy, having worked with us for over 22 years. He has served in several positions throughout his career, but was most recently working in our Rockingham County Operation Center as our Scheduling Specialist for our Power Delivery Department. The loss of Troy is a shock to us all. Our thoughts and prayers are with his son and daughter, other members of the family and his friends.” 

Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page is releasing limited information regarding this case. Page said he has stepped up patrol presence in the Bethany area in the meantime.

Page said requests to receive a concealed carry weapon soared following the homicide.

“A lot of people say, ‘Sheriff, I think I want to get a gun,’” Page said. “That’s fine. but if you keep a gun in the house, make sure you have it where the kids don’t access it, where they can hurt themselves. Number two, make sure you can access it in an emergency. Also, I always recommend keeping a flashlight handy.”

Page said the flashlight is intended to identify the suspect and make sure it’s not a family member who is supposed to be in the home.

“The homeowner is the first line of defense in home protection,” Page said. This includes installing alarm systems, trimming bushes back and locking doors.

Page also recommends being a nosy neighbor and, if anything seems unusual, call law enforcement because he’d rather respond and have it be nothing than hear nothing and have it be something.

“Until the person or persons who are responsible for these serious crimes are taken into custody, then I will feel a little more relaxed,” Page said. “Right now I feel concerned, as the neighbors in the Bethany area, and we will do our part to turn over every stone until we find out who is responsible and bring this person to justice.”

Page said residents should be concerned that whomever was in the home is out on the loose right now.

“As on any homicide, until a person or persons is arrested on this case, yeah, I would be concerned because there is a person or persons out there that are involved in these homicides, so until they are taken into custody, yeah, I’d be concerned,” Page said.

Page said if a resident is concerned, they should call 911, e-mail him at sheriffpage@gmail.com, find him on Facebook or call him at home at (336) 623-8737. “I work for you,” Page said. “Don’t hesitate to call.”

A funeral will be held at Reidsville Christian Church at 3 p.m. Wednesday. The burial will follow the ceremony at Sharon Baptist Church Cemetery with graveside military rites. The family was receiving friends at Reidsville Christian Church from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Anyone with information about this crime, even if they’re considered rumors, is asked to call the sheriff’s office at (336) 634-3232 or Rockingham County Crime Stoppers at (336) 349-9683. A reward is being offered for calling Crime Stoppers, and the reporting party can remain anonymous.