A North Carolina man is charged with first-degree murder after authorities say he choked and stabbed his mother to death hours after deputies were called to her home because she said he would not let her leave, according to investigators and a newly released autopsy summary.
The case centers on Stephanie McCoy, 64, who was found dead May 15, 2025, inside her home in the 4500 block of Red Mill Road in northern Durham County. Her son, Alexander James Glenn Jr., 38, was later arrested and jailed without bond, sheriff’s officials said. This month, an autopsy report described McCoy’s death as involving choking and stabbing, along with injuries to her face and head, adding detail to an investigation that began with a domestic disturbance call and ended with a homicide scene and a countywide search.
Deputies first went to McCoy’s home the morning of May 15 after a report of a disturbance, authorities said. When they arrived, they found McCoy and Glenn in a verbal argument. According to investigators, McCoy told deputies her son would not let her leave the house and would not give her back her cellphone and car keys. The keys, authorities said, belonged to a vehicle owned by McCoy’s boyfriend. Deputies advised Glenn not to take the keys and not to drive the vehicle because his driver’s license was expired, according to accounts later shared by law enforcement and local reporting.
Even with deputies present, officials said Glenn left the home. The sheriff’s office later described him as leaving while deputies were still there, and deputies said he walked away after becoming upset. The situation appeared to cool enough for deputies to clear the call, but investigators would later point to the same dispute as a key marker in the timeline. What happened in the hours that followed has not been fully described publicly by authorities, but law enforcement has said the office was called back to the residence later that day.
Shortly after 1 p.m., the Durham County Sheriff’s Office said it was called to the home again and found a deceased woman inside. Investigators later described McCoy as unresponsive due to an apparent homicide. Early reports noted a deep puncture wound to her neck, and officials said a vehicle that had been in the driveway was missing. The sheriff’s office said evidence gathered at the scene pointed to Glenn as the primary suspect, and a manhunt began as investigators warned residents not to approach him and to call 911 if they saw him.
In a public update at the time, Sheriff Clarence F. Birkhead said the case was treated as an isolated incident and that there was no immediate threat to the broader public, even as deputies sought the suspect. The sheriff’s office said Glenn had a history of violent behavior, including a conviction for assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and other charges described by the agency as equal or greater in seriousness. Investigators asked the public for tips, and they provided contact numbers for detectives and for CrimeStoppers as the search continued.
Within days, sheriff’s investigators announced an arrest. On May 21, 2025, the sheriff’s office said investigators located Glenn and took him into custody without incident. Birkhead credited tips from the public as a key factor in helping investigators track him down. Glenn was charged with first-degree murder and booked into the Durham County detention center without bond, the sheriff’s office said, and he was scheduled to make an initial court appearance the next morning.
Since then, the case has moved through the court system largely out of the public eye, with periodic updates coming in official notices and local reporting. A status hearing has been scheduled for April 16, 2026, according to court information cited in recent coverage. Prosecutors have not publicly outlined their full theory of the case, and investigators have not released a detailed account of what happened inside the home between the first deputy visit and the later discovery of McCoy’s body.
New attention returned to the case this month after details from an autopsy were reported. The autopsy findings described McCoy as having been choked and stabbed, with additional injuries to her face and head. Those findings reinforced earlier investigative statements about a violent death, while adding specificity about the way she was killed. Law enforcement officials have not publicly described whether any weapon was recovered, where in the home the attack took place, or whether there were signs of a struggle beyond the injuries described in reporting.
Authorities have also not publicly detailed whether anyone else was at the residence when deputies first responded, or whether any neighbors witnessed activity during the day. Investigators have not released body camera footage, 911 audio, or incident reports in full. The sheriff’s office has said it is in the early stages of releasing details when major events occur, then provides more information as the investigation allows, a pattern common in homicide cases where evidence and witness statements are still being evaluated.
The earlier disturbance call has drawn close scrutiny because it placed law enforcement at the home hours before the homicide was discovered. Investigators have said the call involved a dispute between mother and son, with McCoy reporting that she was being prevented from leaving and that her phone and keys were being withheld. Deputies, authorities said, warned Glenn not to take the keys or drive a vehicle because his license was expired. Officials have not indicated that deputies made an arrest during that first call, and they have not released details about whether deputies considered protective measures such as seeking emergency commitments, filing charges tied to the alleged restraint, or removing Glenn from the property.
In the days after McCoy’s death, sheriff’s officials emphasized the suspect’s criminal history when asking the public to remain cautious. The agency described Glenn as dangerous and said he had prior convictions involving violence. Officials did not publicly say whether Glenn had been under supervision at the time of the killing, whether any protective orders existed, or whether there were earlier calls for service to the home. Those details can be relevant in domestic violence-related cases, but agencies often hold them back while investigations are active and court processes are pending.
The Red Mill Road address lies in a quieter part of northern Durham County, where homes are set back from the road and wooded stretches are common. On the day deputies found McCoy dead, investigators from the sheriff’s Criminal Investigation Division and the Forensics Unit responded and processed the scene. Authorities have not released information about evidence collected, including whether fingerprints, DNA, or electronic data played a role in identifying Glenn as the primary suspect. The sheriff’s office has said only that evidence gathered pointed to him.
Statements from sheriff’s officials suggest the investigation’s early focus included the missing vehicle, the earlier dispute and the suspect’s departure while deputies were present. Law enforcement has not said whether the missing vehicle was recovered before Glenn’s arrest, where it was located, or whether it became evidence in the case. Investigators have also not said whether McCoy’s cellphone was found at the home or recovered later, though the reported dispute over her phone and keys became a central part of the initial timeline.
Public court records in homicide cases typically grow over time, with filings that can include indictment details, discovery schedules, motions related to evidence and mental health evaluations, and witness lists. In this case, the next publicly cited milestone is the April 16, 2026, status hearing, which often serves as a checkpoint in felony cases to review discovery, set deadlines, and determine whether the case is moving toward a plea agreement or trial schedule. Officials have not announced a trial date in recent public updates.
McCoy’s death has also raised broader questions in the community about high-risk domestic disputes and what happens after officers leave a home where tensions are already escalating. Authorities have not suggested wrongdoing by deputies, and no internal review findings have been made public in the coverage tied to this case. Still, the sequence of events is stark: deputies responded to a dispute involving reported control of movement, keys and a phone; the son left; deputies returned later and found McCoy dead; and an autopsy later described choking and stabbing.
Investigators and prosecutors now face the central burden in the case: proving, beyond a reasonable doubt, who committed the killing and the intent behind it. First-degree murder charges generally require proof of malice and, depending on the prosecution’s theory, may involve evidence of premeditation and deliberation. Law enforcement has not said publicly what evidence supports those elements, whether there were prior threats, or whether the alleged assault occurred in a sudden confrontation.
For McCoy’s relatives and neighbors, the case has remained a painful reminder of how quickly a domestic argument can turn fatal. Law enforcement officials have not released public statements from family members in the recent autopsy coverage, and prosecutors have not given detailed briefings about the next steps. The sheriff’s office has continued to refer to the case as a homicide investigation leading to Glenn’s arrest and detention, with court proceedings pending.
As of mid-February, Glenn remained charged with first-degree murder and held in the Durham County detention center without bond, according to statements from sheriff’s officials and local reporting. Authorities said they expect the next significant update to come as the case moves through court, including the scheduled April 16, 2026, status hearing.
Author note: Last updated February 17, 2026.