RALEIGH – Death row inmate John Fleming died Sunday morning of natural causes.

Fleming, 83, was North Carolina’s oldest death row inmate. His passing now leaves 157 inmates on death row.

Fleming was sentenced to death in Northampton County for the May 16, 1996 murder of Genie Pelham of Pleasant Hill, according to information provided by the NC Department of Correction.  Fleming was convicted of breaking into Pelham’s home before beating and strangling him. He was convicted on April 8, 1997.

A decision from the State Supreme Court in 1999 says Pelham didn’t approve of Fleming dating his daughter. It also says that Pelham was supposed to testify against Fleming for writing checks on his bank account without permission.