[deanmine]

In May 2013 a Wilmington (NC) man fatally stabbed his father, as the suspect’s sister was on the telephone with a New Hanover County dispatcher, who was later investigated for mishandling the call, and later fired. Corey Roberts, 20, was arrested by arriving police.

New Hanover County dispatcher was fired Thursday, an official said, a week after she was criticized for her brusque handling of a fatal stabbing call last week.

County spokesman Charles Smith said Friday that dispatcher Letha Anderson was terminated, but he did not say if her dismissal was directly related to the May 2 call. He did not immediately know how long Anderson worked for the call center, what her salary was, or whether she'd been put on suspension prior to dismissal. According to the StarNews salary database, she was paid $37,382 annually.

In the audio recording released hours after the incident, Anderson sounds curt and repeatedly talks over the caller, who initially reports that her brother is suicidal and threatening to harm himself with a knife.

Ninety-eight seconds into the call, the girl screams that her father has been stabbed.

Christopher Eugene Roberts, 52, died from a stab wound to the back. Police have charged his son, Corey Eugene Roberts, 20, with the killing.

According to investigators, the elder Roberts was trying to calm down his son when he was stabbed in his back in the backyard of the family home on Night Hawk Drive.

Wilmington Police Lt. Tom Witkowski said no one witnessed the actual stabbing, but Roberts' wife was also home at the time.

In the 6:45 p.m. call to 911, Roberts' teenage daughter requests an ambulance because Corey Roberts is threatening to hurt himself.

Several times as the girl is speaking the dispatcher gruffly cuts her off, asking questions like the subject's age and relationship to the caller.

The teen, obviously unsettled, maintains composure in the call and answers the questions all the while insisting help come.

At one point, Corey Roberts can be heard angrily cursing in the background about his dad. The caller pleads with him, "What happened?"

The dispatcher continues to ask questions.

Dispatcher: Where is he at right now?

Caller: I need ... I need ... I don't know what's happening. They're outside. I need help right now.

Dispatcher: I'm getting help, ma'am. Listen, Miss Roberts, stop. Somebody else is already dispatching help to you. My asking questions is not delaying that, it's helping them.

Caller: I don't know what's happening. I'm on the phone with you.

Dispatcher: I understand that. Where is he at with the knife?

Caller: I don't know. He left the house.

Dispatcher: Ok, you do know - he left the house. Did he leave on foot or did he leave in a car?

Caller: He left on foot, but I don't, I don't know where he's going.

Dispatcher: OK, what's he look like?

Caller: He's African American. He's not very tall, about 5'7. He has kind of like, it's not an Afro but it's sort of.... I think he stabbed my dad! I think he stabbed my dad!

Dispatcher: Ma'am, ma'am, calm down for me. You're not helping anybody by being out of control. Where is your father?

The girls begins screaming and drops the phone. The dispatcher calls out her name.

Eight seconds later another female picks up the phone and frantically demands help.

Second caller: We need CPR! We need help! 503 Night Hawk Drive. We need help! Get an ambulance here now!

Dispatcher: Ok I'm getting.... Ma'am, stop. Calm down. Ma'am, they're on the way. Who needs CPR?

The phone is dropped again. Wailing can be heard in the background.

The dispatchers tries to get someone on the phone.

Then she yells out, presumably to other dispatchers in the room with her, "I've got somebody stabbed. CPR requested and nobody's answering me! Get someone there now!"

Christopher Roberts was pronounced dead at the hospital.

New Hanover County dispatcher was fired Thursday, an official said, a week after she was criticized for her brusque handling of a fatal stabbing call last week.

County spokesman Charles Smith said Friday that dispatcher Letha Anderson was terminated, but he did not say if her dismissal was directly related to the May 2 call. He did not immediately know how long Anderson worked for the call center, what her salary was, or whether she'd been put on suspension prior to dismissal. According to the StarNews salary database, she was paid $37,382 annually.

In the audio recording released hours after the incident, Anderson sounds curt and repeatedly talks over the caller, who initially reports that her brother is suicidal and threatening to harm himself with a knife.

Ninety-eight seconds into the call, the girl screams that her father has been stabbed.

Christopher Eugene Roberts, 52, died from a stab wound to the back. Police have charged his son, Corey Eugene Roberts, 20, with the killing.

According to investigators, the elder Roberts was trying to calm down his son when he was stabbed in his back in the backyard of the family home on Night Hawk Drive.

Wilmington Police Lt. Tom Witkowski said no one witnessed the actual stabbing, but Roberts' wife was also home at the time.

In the 6:45 p.m. call to 911, Roberts' teenage daughter requests an ambulance because Corey Roberts is threatening to hurt himself.

Several times as the girl is speaking the dispatcher gruffly cuts her off, asking questions like the subject's age and relationship to the caller.

[whatsup]

the daughter crying is horrid---the despatcher a nasty thang-her

[Kerri]

911 cunt from hell needed to be horsewhipped, then fired. My God.

[damagedgoods]

what a vile nasty cunt. Hope she was fired. That is disgraceful and completely out of line. I don't understand why so many 911 operators are allowed to continue after some of the things that they do or say. There should be a zero tolerance for actions such as these. This lady was particularly Rude and out of line.

[Pigeon]

Then she yells out, presumably to other dispatchers in the room with her, "I've got somebody stabbed. CPR requested and nobody's answering me! Get someone there now!"

I thought she'd already sent someone who was on their way, like she kept telling the caller.

[LifeFlightRN]

There are times when I wish I could reach into my computer and just beat the crap out of someone who deserves it and this dispatcher was more than deserving of a good ass kicking...

[LadyCPlum]

As far as I'm concerned the cunt should've been brought up on manslaughter charges for delaying help for so long.

[RUTHIE7]

Phaleeez tell me this bitch was fired!?

I want to fucking climb through this screen and pull her hair, right the fuck off her head!!!.

[Idek245]

Originally Posted by RUTHIE7 ↗

Phaleeez tell me this bitch was fired!?

I want to fucking climb through this screen and pull her hair, right the fuck off her head!!!.

It’s literally in the first paragraph

“a New Hanover County dispatcher, who was later investigated for mishandling the call, and later fired.”

Glad she’s fired

[bike1941]

what a twat operator...