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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Suit seeks to overturn Medford's pot ban ... Kids learn life lessons in preparation for auction at Jackson County Fair ... One dam at a time ... Suit seeks to overturn Medford's pot ban ... Kids learn life lessons in preparation for auction at Jackson County Fair ... One dam at a time ... CRIME Jackson County pair jailed for murder of North Carolina motel manager Comment By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Jan. 27, 2015 at 1:09 PM Updated Jan 27, 2015 at 4:51 PM By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Jan. 27, 2015 at 1:09 PM Updated Jan 27, 2015 at 4:51 PM » Social News A pair of Jackson County residents have been jailed in Northern California for the murder of a North Carolina motel manager and the theft of his car earlier this month. Samantha Lynn Shilts, 21, of Medford, is being held in the Sacramento County Jail after her Monday night arrest by Sacramento police. Jail records show she is being held without bail on warrants and an extradition hold. Shilts' boyfriend, 21-year-old Tyler Mark Pierce of Phoenix, is being held without bail on a warrant in the Nevada County Jail in Truckee, Calif., after being arrested Monday afternoon by California Highway Patrol. Both await extradition to Hoke County, N.C., to face charges of first-degree murder and robbery, according to a news release from the Hoke County Sheriff's Department. The release said Jakir Mohammed Sheikh, 58, the manager of the Raeford Inn Motel in Raeford, N.C., was found dead Jan. 19 in a room Shilts and Pierce had rented. The couple's personal belongings were found in the room and there had been signs of a struggle, the release said. An investigation determined Sheikh had been strangled to death. Sheikh was last seen by motel patrons Jan. 15 and was reported missing the following day. His car, a 2003 light-colored Dodge Stratus, was reported stolen. Hoke County sheriff's officials said the car had been pulled over by Ohio police at about 9 p.m. Jan. 16. Shilts and Pierce told the officer they had purchased the car and were on their way back to Oregon.  Sheikh's brother was checking rooms at the motel Jan. 19 when he came across Sheikh's body in Room 14. Warrants for Shilts' and Pierce's arrest were issued Jan. 20. Court records show Pierce has no previous criminal history in Oregon. Shilts has an open court case out of Josephine County alleging second-degree animal neglect, a misdemeanor, in July 2014, records show. Reach reporter Ryan Pfeil at 541-776-4468 or [email protected] . Follow him at www.twitter.com/ryanpfeil . By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Jan. 27, 2015 at 1:09 PM Updated Jan 27, 2015 at 4:51 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501