Nash County man charged with murder of 63-year-old father

A Nash County man is charged with the murder of his 63-year-old father, according to the Nash County Sheriff's Office.

Just before 1 p.m. Thursday, deputies responded to a home along Liles Road between West Hornes Church Road and Southern Nash High Road. Charles Earp was found dead from a single gunshot wound.

Deputies arrested Brandon Earp, 37, of Bailey, after a search that lasted more than four hours. Earp is charged with first-degree murder.

Sheriff Keith Stone said it was an unusual circumstance. He said when deputies arrived at the home, they noticed something was burning inside the house.

"When we went in they found a very large amount of odor from some type of chemicals spread all in the house," Stone said.

Stone told WRAL News he believes Brandon Earp poured chemicals all over the house after his father was killed. The sheriff believes he "was hallucinating" and was trying to "flee from aliens."

Brandon Earp was found wearing camouflage face paint and hiding under brush in a tree line

WRAL News captured video of deputies Earp out of the woods.

Public documents show Brandon Earp was charged Saturday in Nash County with larceny, assault and breaking and entering. The sheriff's office said he has a lengthy criminal past.

The investigation is ongoing.