Wake County Judge Reduces Bail for Raleigh Woman Facing Murder Charges

Sandra Hunter, 66, went from being held without bond to facing a bail decision in Wake County court weeks after her arrest on a first-degree murder charge in the February death of Arthur Upchurch, 72, whose body was found in a parked car at an apartment complex at 1021 Bassett Trail near New Bern Avenue and Interstate 440 in Raleigh.

The case carries a complicated history. Court documents show Hunter and Upchurch had a personal relationship, and Upchurch carried a prior conviction for assaulting her. A no-contact order had been in place between the two at the time of his death.

At her initial appearance in March, a judge held Hunter without bond. Her defense attorney asked the court to reconsider, pointing to Hunter's age and close family support as factors arguing against flight risk. Family members, seen in tears in the courtroom during her arraignment, have remained a visible presence throughout proceedings.

The bail question arrives at a sensitive moment for Wake County's courts. Iryna's Law, which took effect December 1, 2025, now requires more rigorous scrutiny from judges and magistrates before granting pretrial release and bans one form of cashless bail in North Carolina entirely. Under state law, murder charges are among the offenses where a judge holds sole discretion over whether a defendant can be released before trial, weighing public safety, criminal history, and the strength of community ties.

The Wake County District Attorney's office has not publicly commented on the bail decision. Hunter remains subject to court-ordered conditions governing her release as the case moves toward a future court date.