Seth Jameson Frazier, 41, has pleaded guilty to the 2017 murders of four Pasquotank Correctional Institution employees. Frazier was sentenced to four consecutive life terms without parole and an additional 93 to 116 years for related charges. He is the final defendant to be charged in the brutal deaths, which shocked North Carolina and led to multiple trials.
What Happened
Frazier entered his guilty plea on Monday, October 2, 2025, in Pasquotank County Superior Court. The charges included four counts of first-degree murder, one count of attempted first-degree murder, and several other charges, including assault with a deadly weapon and burning a public building. These crimes were part of a violent escape attempt that resulted in the deaths of Veronica Darden, Justin Smith, Wendy Shannon, and Geoffrey Howe, four prison employees who were killed during a violent attack on October 12, 2017.
Judge Jeffery Foster sentenced Frazier to four consecutive life terms for the first-degree murder charges, plus 93 to 116 years for the other charges. Frazier’s sentence is the highest possible under North Carolina law.
The Aftermath and Families’ Response
District Attorney Jeff Crudent expressed the significance of the case, calling the crime one of the most horrific in North Carolina’s history. “Four ordinary citizens woke up on October 12 and went to work as they had done countless times before, never to return home,” he stated.
The families of the victims had to make a difficult decision about how to proceed with Frazier’s case. While the death penalty had been considered, the families ultimately chose a plea deal to avoid further trials. The resolution of Frazier’s case means all four inmates responsible for the murders are now sentenced to life in prison.
Previous Trials and Sentencing
The other three men involved in the murders — Mikel Brady, Wisezah Buckman, and Jonathan Monk — have all been tried and sentenced. Brady, the self-proclaimed “pack leader,” was sentenced to death in 2019. Buckman, a five-time convicted murderer, was sentenced to death in 2023. Monk, who was found guilty of four counts of first-degree murder, was sentenced to death in 2025, along with additional sentences for related crimes.
A Step Toward Healing
Crudent emphasized that, while the criminal justice system has delivered justice, it is a bittersweet moment for the families. “Hopefully now that all four inmates are in prison for the rest of their lives, the families can begin in earnest putting this tragedy behind them and find lasting peace,” he said.
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This story may be updated with more information as it becomes available.
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