Report: Evans transferred land

By Jonathan Austin

Long after detectives first focused on Barbara Ann Evans in the Powell-Barker case, county records show she gained sole ownership of her home and property on Jennings Road and then deeded it to a daughter.

Evans has been a focus in the investigation since nearly the beginning, Iredell Sheriff Phil Redmond said Tuesday, and in the months leading up to her arrest, at least one person who knew her said she felt detectives were harrassing her.

She transferred ownership of the real estate to Ronda Baker Jones, records show.

The property, several lots located between Jennings Road and Ebenezer School, had belonged to Willie Sharpe Evans when he married Barbara Ann Baker in 2000.

On Feb. 4, 2002, records show he signed a warranty deed giving her joint ownership, and the next day they both signed a "gift deed" assigning the property to his daughter, who agreed to provide "all necessary care for her father" if he survived his spouse.

Later that year he died.

The deed specified that "Barbara Baker Evans shall be allowed to reside in the subject property" for the remainder of her life.

Late last year, Evans gained sole ownership of the property when her late husband's daughter and her husband signed the property over to her.

No excise tax was paid for the transfer.

Then, in early March, Evans deeded the property to her daughter Ronda, who was listed as living in Nebo.

No excise tax was paid on that transaction.

Tax records showed Wednesday that property taxes of $310.89 were not paid on the property in 2004, and the same amount is due for the year 2005.

With penalties and interest, the tax due now totals $831.60.

On Wednesday, an official with the Iredell County Tax Office said he was preparing a bill to send the new owner for the past due taxes.