5 People Charged In Gaston County Homicide After Body Found In SC

Justin Pryor,

GASTON COUNTY, NC — Gaston County Police have charged five people in connection to a homicide involving a body that was found early last week in South Carolina.

According to GCPD, the body of Kenneth Pilgrim, 44, (AKA Kenneth Black) was found on Rock Springs Road on August 6th in Blacksburg, South Carolina. The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office contacted GCPD after learning that Pilgrim had a last known address in Grover, NC.

After multiple interviews, detectives say they were able to place Pilgrim on View Heights Court right before he disappeared.

GCPD has now charged five suspects with First Degree Murder in connection to Pilgrim’s death. Police say all suspects were acquaintances of Pilgrim.

  • ARRESTED:
    • William Glenn Bell, Jr., 33, of Gastonia, NC
    • Tristan West, 32, of Gastonia, NC
    • Wade Nations, 54, of Gastonia, NC
  • WANTED:
    • Billy Brinson, 34, of Gastonia, NC
    • Carla Black, 26, of Blacksburg, SC

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information on this case or the whereabouts of Brinson and Black is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 704-861-8000.