Fugitive hid for decades by settling in quiet town
There was never an inkling of anything amiss, said Preston Trigg, who grew up in Reidsville and kept in touch with the couple after he helped sell them his mother's house in 2002.
[...] the life of James Manion was part of a long deception dating back to a violent 1977 crime in Florida, according to the FBI.
Authorities say he disappeared in 1980 after he was indicted on charges of murder and aggravated battery.
There were signs, however, that the couple was having financial problems after the wallpaper store went out of business several years ago.
Filings show the business was suspended in 2010 after under a statute for companies that fall behind on taxes or required paperwork.
Last year, Bank of America took Sheryl Manion to court over nearly $10,000 she owed on a delinquent credit account, according to court filings.
No one answered a knock at the couple's home Wednesday, nor did Sheryl Manion return phone messages.
The state Board of Elections website shows that James Manion registered in 2001 and voted in several elections including GOP primaries through 2006.