ASHEVILLE – Citizen Times – 3/8/25 – The man who pleaded guilty in attempted murder and carjacking of a mail vehicle in connection with the shooting of a Madison County resident in the face will be sentenced this week.
Jaden Garay, 25, of Weaverville, was federally indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice in October 2023 after the Sept. 5 shooting of Hot Springs resident Teresa Ramsay.
Garay was captured early Sept. 6 in Morganton after a manhunt went on through the night.
His sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 13 at the Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse on Otis Street in Asheville.
On Sept. 5, 2023, Mars Hill University went into lockdown just before 1:15 p.m. after officers with Mars Hill Police Department and Madison County Sheriff’s Office responded to “an individual with severe injuries and the theft of their vehicle” located just off Main Street near Spring Drive.
In addition to the attempted murder, Garay was charged with carjacking and assault on a mail carrier. Each offense carries a statutory maximum prison term of 25 years. Read more.
PEN’s previous coverage below:
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – A Weaverville, N.C. man has been indicted for the attempted murder of a U.S. Postal Carrier and related charges, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Tommy D. Coke, Inspector In Charge of the Atlanta Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which oversees Charlotte, joins U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
A federal grand jury sitting in Asheville returned a four-count criminal indictment against Jaden Isaiah Garay, 24, charging him with attempted murder of a United States Postal Service Rural Mail Carrier, carjacking, assault on a mail carrier, and use of a firearm during a crime of violence.
According to allegations in the indictment, on September 5, 2023, in Madison County, Garay unlawfully attempted to kill T.R., a United States Postal Service Rural Mail Carrier. The indictment further alleges that Garay carjacked T.R.’s vehicle, assaulted T.R. while she was performing her official duties, and put the victim’s life in jeopardy using a dangerous weapon. The indictment also alleges that Garay did carry and use a 9mm semiautomatic pistol, and that the firearm discharged during and in relation to crimes of violence, that being attempted murder and carjacking.
A federal arrest warrant has been issued for Garay to appear in federal court in Asheville on the federal charges. Garay is currently in the custody of the Madison County Sheriff’s Office.
The charges against Garay are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The charge of attempted murder carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The statutory maximum prison term for the carjacking charge and the assault on a mail carrier charge is 25 years in prison for each offense. The charge of use of a firearm during a crime of violence carries a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and maximum penalty of life in prison.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King commended the USPIS, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, the North Carolina Department of Correction K9 Team, the North Carolina Highway Patrol, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the Burke County Sheriff’s Office, Burke County EMS, Burke County Emergency Management, and Burke County Communications Center, the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office, the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office, the Morganton Department of Public Safety, the Marion Police Department, and the Mars Hill Police Department for their investigation of the case and for their invaluable assistance in apprehending Garay. U.S. Attorney King also thanked Madison County District Attorney Seth Banks for his Office’s assistance and coordination with the federal investigation.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville is prosecuting the case.
