On December 25, 2004, at approximately 11:30am, Vickie Barts, her husband, Gary, and the couple’s young children, traveled to the High Point, North Carolina, residence of Vickie’s mother, 69-year-old Lena Wheless. The couple had planned to pick up Lena to spend Christmas Day with the family.

When Vickie’s repeated knocks at the front door went unanswered, she used her spare key to enter the home. Inside, Vickie found the house eerily dark and quiet. Concerned that her mother may have experienced a medical emergency, she hurried through the house to locate her. In the home’s bedroom, she was met with a horrifying scene; Lena lay deceased on the floor. Hearing Vickie’s cries, Gary rushed into the home and immediately called 911.

Lena was found on the bedroom floor of her modest, one-story home. An autopsy would reveal she had been stabbed 36 times. The murder weapon, a large kitchen knife belonging to Lena, was found lying beside her body. Police found no signs of forced entry into the home, however the home’s back door, that led directly into the kitchen, was found to be unlocked. The only items found to be missing from the home were two VCR’s.

Lena had last been seen alive the previous night, Christmas Eve. Around 9:30pm, her 17-year-old step-granddaughter, Paige, visited to deliver a Christmas gift. The two exchanged presents and spoke briefly as Lena prepared deviled eggs in the kitchen for the following day's family gathering. Paige departed a short time later.

Lena, who was retired, had lived alone for two years following the death of her husband, Paul, in 2002. Neighbors described her as a “trusting soul,” but also noted that she had become increasingly cautious regarding strangers in the wake of her husband's passing. They informed investigators on several occasions, Lena had contacted them to report the presence of unfamiliar people or door-to-door salesmen in the area. Both neighbors and Lena’s family firmly expressed their doubts that Lena would open her door, especially at night, to anyone unknown to her.

Lena’s family suspects a neighbor was responsible for her death. This belief stems from accounts provided by other neighbors regarding an unnamed individual living adjacent to Lena’s home. According to these rumors, the man, who had established a friendship with Lena following her husband’s passing, was observed leaving his house at approximately 11pm on Christmas Eve. He reportedly did not return until the following morning, at which time he was wearing different clothing.

Neighbors also claimed to have seen the same man burning items in his backyard on Christmas night, while others reported seeing lacerations on the man’s arms and hands around the same time. The unnamed neighbor was questioned by police and issued a polygraph test, which proved to be inconclusive. He was released a short time later.

Unfortunately, there has been no significant progress in the investigation since 2004, despite the case being reopened on at least two separate occasions since then. Investigators shared that DNA evidence and fingerprints collected from the scene were determined to be “inconclusive,” even with modern testing. As of 2024, Lena’s case was classified as “inactive.”

Lena’s obituary shared her love for children, and described her as a well known and devoted member of her church. She was laid to rest in Floral Garden Memorial Park.

Sadly, the murder of Lena Wheless remains unsolved.

**Sources**

[Case Photos/Newspaper Clippings](https://imgur.com/a/iWzhTeG)

[Lena Obituary](https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/winstonsalem/name/lena-wheless-obituary?id=28762002)