By Devetta Blount -
Clayton, NC-- Johnston County deputies are investigating an early Friday morning fire that destroyed a Clayton home and displaced a homosexual couple who lived there. WRAL-TV in Raleigh talked to a neighbor of the couple who said the couple had been victimized by harassment for more than a year.
Fire crews were called to the house on New Castle Court around 1:30 a.m. Friday. The couple was out of town when the fire was set, according to a neighbor and investigators.
The couple was not at home when the fire started and are now staying in a motel. They asked WRAL not to reveal their identity out of fear for their safety.
Johnston County Sheriff Steve Bizzell confirmed to the television station that the fire is being investigated as an arson. Bizzell said this fire does not appear to be related to a string of other suspicious fires in the area.
A neighbor, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of backlash against her, said there have been at least three separate incidents of anti-gay harassment at the couple's home. She told WRAL, a note with derogatory language was left in the mailbox, an anti-gay slur was written on the house with marker and the tires of a car parked in the garage were slashed.
Sheriff Bizzell said that the his office was aware of two of those incidents, but would not elaborate. He would not confirm whether they are related to the arson investigation. Bizzell said there are no suspects at this time. No other information was released.
Another neighbor in the subdivision said he feels sorry for the male couple because they lost everything. He and others in the neighborhood believe it was a hate crime.
The Red Cross is supplying the victims with food, clothes and contacts for insurance.
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Can't believe the hate.
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