The Sanford Herald – November 2, 2001

Arraignment

Also, Dale Reese Hardee, 29, of 7128 N.C. 87 South, turned down a plea agreement offered by Huggins and pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder, driving while impaired and driving left of center.

On July 23, Hardee, while allegedly driving drunk, crossed the center turn lane on N.C. 87, entered the southbound lanes and struck head-on a vehicle driven by Stanley Zuravel of Fayetteville.

Zuravel was killed instantly, and his wife, Roberta, a passenger in the vehicle, was treated for minor injuries.

Huggins said he offered to allow Hardee to plead guilty to second-degree murder and serve a 12-year prison sentence, but Hardee declined.

A trial date has not yet been set, but will be after the first of the year, Huggins said.