Greg Sims

By Holly Fesperman Lee

Salisbury Post

An elderly Rockwell man found beaten in his home last week has died from injuries suffered in the attack.

Edward Wayne Moose, 68, of 10875 U.S. 52, died shortly after 7 p.m. Monday, a spokesman for Carolinas Regional Medical Center in Charlotte said.

Meanwhile, two additional suspects were charged Monday in the assault on Moose. That brings to three the number charged in the vicious attack.

Charged Monday by the Rowan County Sheriff's Department were Jimmie Richard Allen II, 24, of 150 Sand Road, Rockwell, and Greg Devin Sims, 20, of 120 Langley Drive, Salisbury.

Arrested early Friday was Christopher Lee Phipps, 25, also of 150 Sand Road.

Contacted Monday night shortly after Moose's death, Rowan County Sheriff George Wilhelm said he planned to speak to District Attorney Bill Kenerly today to discuss filing murder charges against the three.

Christopher Phipps

Currently, they're each charged with two counts of felony first-degree burglary, one count of felony larceny, and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill. Allen, Sims and Phipps are all being held in the Rowan County Detention Center under $275,000 secured bonds.

Allen and Sims were arrested at the sheriff's department Monday after they came in for questioning.

The attack on Moose was especially vicious.

He was found unconscious on the floor of his house Wednesday by a friend, Joel Fesperman of New London. The house had been ransacked.

Moose had been stabbed in one arm and had head injuries, according to Fesperman. He said that every bone in his friend's face was broken.

"I'm glad he's no longer suffering like he was," Fesperman said. He and Moose had been friends since Fesperman was 4 years old and the two were especially close during the past 7 or 8 years.

Jimmie Allen

Fesperman said Moose was always laughing and cutting up; "he could turn a bad day around for you in just a minute; I sure do miss him."

Fesperman said he couldn't help but hope the people responsible paid for their actions. "He was a good man, he didn't deserve what happened to him."

Moose's family members declined comment Monday night.

Wilhelm told a Post reporter Friday that the attackers used a metal ceiling fan and a sharp object to assault Moose.

Phipps was originally charged with one count of felony burglary, but Lt. John Sifford of the Rowan County Sheriff's Department said investigators learned that all three men returned to Moose's home a second time to steal property the night of the assault.

In addition to the $750 and Colt .38-caliber Police Special originally reported, the men stole electronic equipment and jewelry, according to Sifford.

Sifford said the investigation is ongoing and there might be additional arrests.

Contact Holly Fesperman Lee at 704-797-4266 or hlee@salisburypost.com.