R. Heath McBride
Assistant Special Agent in Charge
North Carolina
State Bureau of Investigation

Heath McBride is an Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC) with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, Northwestern District. He attended the 30th SBI Special Agent Academy at the North Carolina Justice Academy in Salemburg, North Carolina. Prior to becoming an ASAC he was assigned as a Criminal Agent, Clandestine Lab response team, Special Response Team, and Crime Scene Search Specialist. McBride teaches in the Basic Law Enforcement Training program at Catawba Valley Community College (CVCC) and is the Director of the Program. He also teaches in the Criminal Justice Technology Program at CVCC. In addition to teaching at CVCC, McBride teaches at the SBI academy and SBI in-service courses. In 2012, McBride was awarded the Excellence in Teaching Award at CVCC. In 2011 McBride was awarded the Northwestern District Agent of the Year. On three occasions McBride has presented cases to the North Carolina Homicide Investigators Association conferences.

He started his law enforcement career in a non-sworn position at the Appalachian State University Police Department. McBride was a patrol officer with the Hickory Police Department and a Sergeant with the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office. He has an Associate’s Degree in Science from Lees-McRae College and a Bachelor’s of Science in Criminal Justice from Appalachian State University. McBride has additional graduate studies from Appalachian State University.

ASAC McBride has investigated corruption cases, drug and meth labs, sexual assaults, law enforcement officer use of force, and police shootings. Additionally, ASAC McBride has investigated numerous homicides as the investigating agent and as the crime scene search specialist. Notable cases include the Zahra Baker homicide, Tzeo quadruple homicide, and the Hickory serial killer homicides.