On September 1, 2023 Curtis Atkinson, 43, was convicted of double murder in the death of his parents Ruby and Curtis Atkinson Sr. that occurred on Glenncannon Drive Charlotte, NC. Curtis’s girlfriend Nikkia Cooper pled guilty to double murder in the case also. Curtis then kidnapped his then 11-year-old niece Arieyana Forney and fled to Washington D.C.
On March 30, 2017, Curtis and Nikkia went to the home of Curtis’s parents after being evicted from their own home earlier that day.
After an argument between the parties, Curtis and Nikkia killed Mr. and Mrs. Atkinson. Curtis’s niece Arieyana was present in the home at the time. The victims were beaten, shot, and stabbed by Curtis and Nikkia.
Mrs. Atkinson was shot in her neck and the head, she had 17 stab wounds to her upper body. Mr. Atkinson had 69 stab wounds and broken teeth.
The suspects stayed in the house with Arieyana and the dead bodies of the 2 victims until April 2, 2017; they then set the house on fire.
The suspects kidnapped Arieyana and fled to Washington, D.C. There, they were apprehended that night and Arieyana was rescued by officers with the Metropolitan Police Department.
In 2019 Nikkia pled guilty to double murder in connection with the crimes.
Curtis took his case to trial which began on July 31, 2023. Judge Karen Eady-Williams presided over the trial.
Curtis was on trial for two counts of first degree murder, first degree kidnapping, conspiracy to commit first degree murder, conspiracy to commit first degree kidnapping, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The jury found Curtis guilty as charged. Judge Eady-Williams handed Curtis a sentence of 2 consecutive terms of life in prison without the possibility for parole for the murder charges and 404-532 months for the remaining charges.
Those sentences will run consecutive to the life sentences.
