Murder Suspect’s Ex: He Stabbed Me

CHARLOTTE, NC — WCCB Charlotte has obtained disturbing details about a man accused of killing his girlfriend in West Charlotte.

Jerry Hunter faced a judge Friday for the first time since he was arrested Wednesday. A woman in the courtroom, Melinda Garlins, told WCCB Charlotte he tried to kill her more than a decade ago.

“He stabbed me, left me in the house for dead,” said Garlins.

She says she dated him, and wasn’t surprised when police accused him of killing his most recent girlfriend, Sarah Acker. Acker was a grandmother undergoing dialysis treatment.

“He strangled her,” said Michael Acker. “She did not deserve to leave here the way she did.”

Michael Acker says after he and Sarah began their divorce process, she met Hunter.

He wrote her from prison where he was serving a nearly four-year sentence for breaking and entering.

That was one of 19 prison sentences he’s served in 16 years, according to his record.

“I don’t know if she knew about this guy and his background,” said Michael Acker.

Two months after Hunter got out, police say he killed Sarah in her west Charlotte home. Family had not heard from her and asked for a welfare check on Wednesday. That’s when police found her dead. They found Hunter driving around in Sarah’s car.

“He sweet talked her,” said Michael Acker. “He found someone he knew he could take advantage of, and that’s what he did.”

Now Garlins is coming forward with a terrifying survival story.

“I still be remembering stuff about the situation,” said Garlins.

It matches up with Hunter’s arrest record.

In 2002, Hunter served nearly two years in prison for assault with a deadly weapon.

The District Attorney’s Office wouldn’t comment on that case while prosecuting Hunter’s latest charges.

“When I saw him? I wasn’t thinking about nothing but you just a sneaky person,” said Garlins.

Acker’s family feels like they could have saved her if they only knew Hunter’s past.

He now faces charges of murder, possession of a stolen vehicle and fleeing arrest in a motor vehicle.

Sarah is the cousin of a Charlotte anti-violence activist. There’s a candlelight vigil for her Saturday night at Camp Green Park in West Charlotte at 7:00pm.