Duo Faces Drug Charges in Clay County

Clay County Sheriff's Office

Press Release

On 09/02/25 at 12:16 PM, Clay County Lt. Tyler Faggard and Clay County Investigator Brandon Coker stopped a silver Nissan Xterra at George’s Hardware in Hayesville for an expired license plate. Mary Anne Leatherwood, 38 years of age from Murphy, was found to be driving.

Wayne Bruce Odom, 46 years of age from Hayesville, was found to be a passenger within the Nissan. When asked for her driver’s license and vehicle registration, Leatherwood was noticed to be nervously shaking. When asked if she had anything in the vehicle that could be of danger to the Officers, Leatherwood said she had a gun in her purse and handed it to Investigator Coker.

During this time NC Troopers Gordon and Cheeks arrived to the scene to access Leatherwood for Driving While Impaired. A search of her purse yielded a High Point semi-automatic pistol and a Marlboro cigarette pack containing suspected marijuana. During this vehicle stop Lt. Faggard observed Odom as he stepped out of the front passenger seat of the vehicle. At first Odom attempted to throw something beneath the Xterra. He then got out of the seat while putting something in the side compartment of the door. Lt. Faggard found within this passenger side door compartment a silver cylinder containing a quantity of a crystal-like substance that ultimately field-tested positive for methamphetamine.

When questioned, Leatherwood admitted to using methamphetamine the day before. She said the methamphetamine found within her vehicle this day was not hers. A thorough search of the vehicle yielded 2 open containers of alcohol and a gray pouch containing a glass smoking pipe wrapped in blue paper towel and a clear baggy containing a crystal-like substance.

This substance also field-tested positive for methamphetamine. Odom and Leatherwood were both arrested and transported to the Clay County Detention Center. Odom was charged with felony Possession of Methamphetamine. Leatherwood was charged with felony Possession of Methamphetamine, felony Maintaining a Vehicle for Drugs, Carrying a Concealed Weapon, and Driving While Impaired.

All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law