Second Arrest Made in Homicide Investigation
On October 21, 2024, at approximately 5:00 p.m., deputies with the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 3800 block of Pecan Grove Circle in reference to a suspicious death. Upon arrival, deputies secured the scene, and the General Investigations Division initiated an extensive investigation.
Throughout the course of the investigation, detectives pursued numerous leads and dedicated countless hours to locating, collecting, and testing evidence related to the case. The Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office received valuable assistance from the Kinston Police Department, Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, Greene County Sheriff’s Office, Goldsboro Police Department, and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.
As a result of the investigation, Emonii Cuttino, 35, of Kinston, North Carolina, was arrested on December 31, 2025, in connection with the murder of Xavier Branch. Cuttino was taken into custody on Grainger Avenue in Kinston after being located inside a residence.
Cuttino has been charged with the following offenses:
First Degree Murder
Conspiracy to Commit First Degree Murder
Cuttino was denied bond and is currently being held at the Lenoir County W. E. “Billy” Smith Detention Center.
This investigation remains ongoing and will continue until all leads have been fully exhausted. The Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office extends its gratitude to each agency that assisted with this case.
Anyone with information related to this investigation is encouraged to contact the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Division at 252-559-6140. Anonymous tips may be submitted through Lenoir County Crime Stoppers at 252-523-4444.
