LINCOLN COUNTY, N.C. — WCNC Charlotte has chosen to use this mugshot because of the nature of the crime and because a guilty plea was entered.

A Lincoln County man will spend the next few decades in prison after pleading guilty to killing a woman in October 2023.

The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office announced on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, that 38-year-old Michael Steven Ricker pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. He will spend between 33-40 years in prison, with 760 days of credit for time already served.

Ricker is accused of killing Lesa Armstrong Rose on Oct. 21, 2023. The initial call that day was for a cardiac arrest, but deputies at the time said Rose's death was not naturally caused based on the injuries she had. Ricker, who also lived in the same house as Rose, was quickly identifi

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