Kenneth Michael Warnsley

The manager of a business is found shot to death in the chest
Kenneth Michael Warnsley was an ambitious and kind-hearted man, remembered by friends and family as a wonderful person. A 39-year-old male, he had moved to Greensboro with his family when he was 11 years old. After graduating from Smith High School, he earned a business degree from Rutledge College. Mr. Warnsley served his country in the U.S. Army, becoming a drill sergeant before returning to Greensboro to help care for his disabled parents. He held a series of management jobs at local businesses and, at the time of his death, was considering starting a business with his sister. A close friend noted he had also planned to return to school at Guilford Technical Community College once he could secure a regular shift at work. He was a father to his only child, a son named Kenneth Miguel, who turned 13 the day after his father's death.

In the pre-dawn hours of Saturday, October 20, 2001, Mr. Warnsley left his home around 2 a.m. for his job as a manager at the Cook Out restaurant at 1041 Summit Avenue. He often went to work early, and on this particular morning, no one else was supposed to be in the restaurant. Later that morning, Greensboro police officers responded to a call about a person down at the Cook Out, located near the intersection with Third Street. Inside, they found Mr. Warnsley on the floor. He had been shot once in the chest and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Greensboro Police Department launched a homicide investigation, with detectives stating early on that they believed Mr. Warnsley was killed "maliciously." His family and friends were convinced that the person responsible was someone he knew. His sister, Karen Warnsley, stated that robbery was not the motive, as nothing was missing from the restaurant. She believed her brother would not have let a stranger into the building. "We know it is somebody who knew his pattern," she said. Police informed the family that the weapon used was a .357-caliber Magnum. His sister described him as fearless, speculating that he likely confronted his killer. Family members hoped that surveillance cameras inside the Cook Out might have captured images of the person responsible.

Despite the initial belief that Mr. Warnsley knew his killer, the investigation has stalled over the years. Police released very little information to the public, citing the need to protect the integrity of their investigation. Sgt. Fred Alley of the Greensboro Police Department confirmed they were following up on some information and evidence but could not elaborate further. The case has since grown cold, joining the list of the city's unsolved homicides. His loved ones were left to mourn a man they described as a pillar of support and a cherished friend. The day after his murder, co-workers honored him by placing yellow ribbons and plastic flowers on the walk-up windows of the restaurant.

More than two decades have passed, and the case of who killed Kenneth Warnsley remains unsolved. His death is one of several cold cases from that era that the Greensboro Police Department continues to investigate, hoping for a breakthrough. The search for justice for Mr. Warnsley and his family continues, and authorities still seek information from the public that could lead to the killer.

To encourage new leads, the state of North Carolina is offering a Governor's reward of $5,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the murder of Kenneth Michael Warnsley. The Greensboro Police Department and Guilford County Crime Stoppers urge anyone with any information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward. The case remains open, awaiting the tip that will finally bring closure to a family that has waited many years for answers.