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Judge's death leaves mood at courthouse "somber"

John Mull died in Catawba River, investigation continues

John Mull

By Sharon McBrayer | The News Herald

Published: July 20, 2009

Updated: 07/20/2009 02:36 pm

MORGANTON - District Court Judge and Burke County native John Mull died on Sunday night after pulling his son from the Catawba River.
How he died won't be known until an preliminary autopsy is completed today, say officials. It's unclear whether his death resulted from drowning or a medical condition, say officials.
Burke County Sheriff John McDevitt said Mull was pronounced dead at Grace Hospital a little after 9 p.m. Sunday.
McDevitt said Mull's wife, Rebecca, told him the family was spending time together at some property they owned off Jamison Drive in Glen Alpine on Sunday.
Mull's 17-year-old son Matthew and his friend were swimming in the river, McDevitt said, when Matthew started having cramps.
Mull went into the water and got Matthew out. When Matthew and the friend looked around, Mull wasn't there, McDevitt said Rebecca Mull told him.
They went in after him and found him face down in the water. They started CPR and Rebecca Mull ran up the hill to get cell phone reception to call for help, McDevitt said.
They were in 4 to 9 feet of water, McDevitt said.
Mull was scheduled to preside in district court in Burke County on Monday morning. Judge Robert Brady stepped in to take over, said Mabel Lowman, Burke County Clerk of Courts.
Lowman said the mood around the courthouse Monday was somber. She said some people who showed up to appear before him on Monday broke down and cried when they heard the news.
"It's just such a shock," Lowman said. "I've known John Mull every since I've been at the clerk's office — over 35 years."
Lowman received a call from Superior Court Judge Robert Ervin at around 9:20 p.m. Sunday about Mull's death, she said. McDevitt notified Ervin, she said.
"I always say, 'in a split second life can change forever,'" Lowman said.
Shane Brown, a deputy who had worked with Mull for about four years, told WSOC, The News Herald's news partner, that he was shocked when he found out. He said a lot of phone calls were made to see if the news was true.
Brown said he will remember Mull's "good-heartedness" and that he treated everyone the same — with respect. It didn't matter, Brown said, if someone was a victim or defendant.
Brown also remembered that Mull always asked about his family and how his day was going.
Mull has been a district court judge since 2002 and a licensed attorney since 1977. He was a graduate of Glen Alpine High School, Wake Forest University and Wake Forest School of Law.
Since district court judges are elected, Gov. Beverly Perdue will have to appoint a replacement, Lowman said. He was up for re-election in 2010.
He is survived by wife, Rebecca S. Mull, three children, John Jr., Rebecca and Matthew, his father, Garland, and brother, Ted Mull, according to election biography information and those who knew Mull.
Sossoman Funeral Home is handling arrangements.