NEW BERN, Craven County — A murder suspect and his wife who were at the center of a manhunt and a police chase over Memorial day weekend made their first court appearances on Tuesday.

Timothy Harris and his wife Barbara appeared before Judge Karen Alexander at the Craven County Courthouse.

Timothy Harris is charged with one count of open murder and several other charges connected to running from police.

Barbara Harris is charged with being an acessory after the fact and other related charges in her attempt to keep deputies from arresting her husband.

The sheriff's office had issued a warrant for the arrest of Timothy Harris for the shooting death of Courtney Dixon of New Bern on May 22.

“We were able to pin point his location. It was up in the Vanceboro area. Our deputies were aggressively working that area and met him on the road, along with Mrs. Harris, who was driving a white Jeep. The chase started and they tried to elude us again," explained Sheriff Chip Hughes."

The Harris' were driving two separate vehicles and in their bid to avoid arrest, Hughes says Barbara Harris tried to hit patrol cars during the chase to help her husband escape.

Hughes says deputies successfully arrested both suspects with minimal damage to vehicles and no injuries on Monday.

The investigation is not yet complete and a potential relationship between Harris and Dixon has not been released but Hughes believes drugs were involved.

“The investigation is still ongoing at this time. The sheriff's office was able to develop enough sufficient evidence to obtain warrants, which were served and for which the defendants are charged right now," says District Attorney Scott Thomas, "They’re in the process of completing their investigation and interviewing witnesses, so we’re limited to the facts I can provide you.”

Timothy Harris continues to be held without bond and Barbara Harris' bond is set at $1.2 million.

They are both expected in court again on June 5.