BUNCOMBE COUNTY, N.C. – A 21-year-old Cullowhee man has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of Joseph Rose, marking a significant development in a multi-agency homicide investigation that has spanned several jurisdictions.
Detectives with the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office filed the charge against Johnathan David Paleno on Friday, December 19. Paleno was taken into custody the same day by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office in Cullowhee and has since been transferred to the Buncombe County Detention Facility, where he is being held without bond.
Authorities say the arrest follows an extensive investigation that involved collaboration among multiple agencies, including the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, and the Asheville Police Department.
BCSO officials credited their detectives, patrol deputies, and crime scene investigators for what they called tireless work to move the case forward. Captain Chris Stockton of District 2 said the department remains committed to seeking justice for the victim and providing closure to his family.
The homicide investigation remains active, with additional details expected as detectives continue to process evidence and pursue leads.
A Cullowhee man is in custody without bond after being charged with first-degree murder in the death of Joseph Rose.