> At a Glance
> – Rayfield Ruffin, 73, and Frances Ruffin, 67, found dead in their Greenville, N.C. home on Dec. 31
> – Grandson Martinez Corvell Ruffin, 34, arrested on two counts of murder and assault charges
> – Same house where great-grandson Karter, 5, died in Oct. 2024 accidental shooting
> – Why it matters: Tragedy strikes the same family twice, raising questions about firearm safety and unresolved grief
A North Carolina couple discovered dead in their home on New Year’s Eve were allegedly killed by their own grandson-more than a year after their great-grandson was accidentally shot by his brother in the same residence.
The Discovery
Deputies responding to an assault call found Rayfield and Frances Ruffin deceased inside their Greenville residence just before 2025 began. Investigators quickly zeroed in on the couple’s 34-year-old grandson, Martinez Corvell Ruffin, and arrested him on two counts of first-degree murder.
He also faces two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury. Authorities have not disclosed a motive or the exact relationship between Martinez and the victims’ late great-grandson.
A House Marked by Tragedy
The Ruffins’ modest home had already become a scene of heartbreak in October 2024, when 5-year-old Karter River Rosenboro was fatally shot by his 6-year-old brother in what police ruled an accident.
Key facts from the earlier incident:
- Rayfield was charged with unsafe firearm storage after Karter’s death
- The weapon was allegedly accessible to the children
- Court records show Rayfield posted bond, but the case status at the time of his death is unclear
Charges and Custody
Martinez Corvell Ruffin remains held without bail in the Pitt County Detention Center. Online records do not list an attorney or indicate whether he has entered a plea.
Pitt County Sheriff’s Office has released few additional details, citing the ongoing investigation.
Key Takeaways
- Double homicide on Dec. 31 claimed the lives of Rayfield, 73, and Frances Ruffin, 67
- Grandson Martinez Ruffin, 34, faces two murder charges and related assault counts
- Same residence where great-grandchild Karter, 5, died in 2024 accidental shooting
- Firearm storage charge against Rayfield from the 2024 incident had not been resolved
The family now faces two layers of grief-an accidental child death followed by an alleged double murder-leaving neighbors and relatives searching for answers.
