Murdered man may have had ties to Vick

Sept. 20, 2007

By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer

Authorities say a Catawba County man found murdered at his home may have had connections to the dog-fighting ring run by professional football player Michael Vick.

Roy Thomas Melton, a 38-year-old pit bull breeder, was shot to death in April. His body was found at his home on South Beulah Road by a friend, and when authorities arrived at the trailer, they found 30 pit bulls, many of which were puppies. The dogs were euthanized.

For the past five months, investigators have been reviewing paperwork from Melton's home. Some of the names found in Melton's documents are the same as names mentioned in an indictment against Vick, said Capt. Roy Brown of the Catawba County Sheriff's Office.

Brown said he is not sure whether the names mentioned are names of dogs or nicknames for people.


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