Robert Martin Blanton, 59, of Forest City, North Carolina, was found dead in his Big Springs apartment on April 4, 2019. His death was initially not treated as a homicide, but a later examination determined he died from a gunshot wound to the chest and the case was reclassified as a homicide.

Detectives continued investigating over the following years to develop evidence and identify possible suspects. In October 2023, authorities arrested two Forest City residents, Martiece Sanford, 27, and Steve Gentry, 64; Sanford was charged with first-degree murder and Gentry with aiding and abetting first-degree murder. Both were taken into custody and held without bond at the Rutherford County Detention Center as the district attorney’s office reviewed the case for formal charging.

The family seeks justice and closure in Robert’s death. If anyone has information about his death or his movements in early April 2019, please come forward.