Pinehurst woman's death caused by Moore Co. substation attack, autopsy says
Authorities in Moore County Tuesday said a woman died as a result of the substation attack that knocked out power for tens of thousands in December.
According to an autopsy obtained by WRAL News, 87-year-old Karin Zoanelli of Pinehurst died as a result of the attack on the substation.
"Since the power outage involved reportedly occurred in the setting of a criminal firearm attack on the regional electrical distribution substation, the manner of death is best classified as a homicide," the autopsy read.
The power loss caused her oxygen machine to power off. Zoanelli, who needs the oxygen tank for heart disease, was found in her Pinehurst home without power when she died.
The autopsy said Zoanelli died around midnight on December 4, four hours after 45,000 Moore County residents lost power.
Her husband, Bruno Zoanelli said she had fallen off the bed the night of the substation attack.
"She had gotten up to go to the bathroom but we had no light," he said. "She just collapsed on the ground and that was that, she was gone."
Bruno Zoanelli is hoping authorities find the people responsible. As of August 29, no arrests have been made.
"If we would have lost the power from natural causes and she would've died, okay," he said. "I think if somebody cut the power that night, that's a murder. You should pay for it."
