One thing that I always find saddening is when there is a tragedy around the holidays. It’s bad any day of the year, but there’s something extra cruel about experiencing tremendous heartbreak during the time of the year known for goodwill and generosity.
The parents of 19-year-old Rhonda Hinson are very familiar with this. Rhonda grew up in Valdese, a small town in the Appalachian foothills of North Carolina. In the spring of 1981, she graduated as a standout athlete from East Burke High School in Icard, NC. On the night of December 22nd, 1981, Rhonda attended the company Christmas party for her work place, Hickory Steel, which was not far from her home. After the party, she returned to the home of a friend who went with her, called her boyfriend, and then started the drive to her own house.
Only a half mile from home on the winding Mineral Springs Mountain Road, she was shot inside her car by a high-powered rifle. The car came to rest in a ditch on the opposite side of the road. Rhonda’s body was found in the early morning hours on the 23rd outside of the car.
This case garnered nationwide attention, and was even covered on Unsolved Mysteries back during the Robert Stack era. Growing up near where this took place, I’ve heard about this case since I was a child. Many people running for county sheriff campaigned on solving this crime. Many agencies have poured a lot of resources into unraveling the mystery. Yet it remains unsolved.
On December 23rd, 2024, the 43rd anniversary of her murder, the Burke County Sheriff’s Office announced that the combined award for information leading to an arrest was increased to $94,700.00. The sheriff’s office has a dedicated tip line solely for the Rhonda Hinson case. If anyone out there has any credible information, they can call (828) 764-9549.
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