The Rocky Mount funeral home owner charged with plotting his wife's death was moved to the mental health ward in Central Prison in Raleigh this weekend.

Mark Anthony Bowling, accused of plotting with Rose Delores Parker Vincent to kill Bowling's wife, Julie, was "extremely suicidal" following his arrest on Saturday, according to Nash County Sheriff Dick Jenkins' written request to have Bowling transferred from the Nash County jail.

Authorities admitted Bowling and Vincent to Nash County jail at 5:11 p.m. Saturday, and he was moved from the jail at 7:21 p.m. Bowling is being held in Unit 6 at the prison, which is a mental health facility, said Correctional Capt. M.A. Hudson.

"The defendant has medical problems (extremely suicidal) that is outside the capability of the Nash County Detention Facility to handle," stated the sheriff's request, called an order for safekeeping, to move Bowling. "It is necessary for the defendant's safekeeping and the welfare of the personnel ... that he be committed to the North Carolina Department of Correction."

Jenkins on Monday declined comment on the situation. He also declined to say specifically how Bowling has been linked to the murder.

Authorities believe Vincent shot Julie Bowling in her garage on Friday morning as Julie Bowling prepared to go to work. Results of ballistics tests have not returned, but Vincent allegedly led authorities to what they believe is the murder weapon.

Bowling was on vacation in Crystal Lake, Florida, when his wife was shot.

Bowling did not attempt suicide while in the county jail, said Lt. Pat Joyner of the Nash County Sheriff's Office. Any suicide attempt would have required the jailors to file an incident report, and none exists, Joyner said.

Joyner declined to comment on whether Bowling threatened suicide while being detained.

"That's not an unusual reason for us to receive safekeepers," said Department of Correction spokesman Keith Acree.

The arraignments for Mark Bowling and Vincent – who authorities believe had been having an affair for about a year – are scheduled for today, Bowling's 36th birthday.

Julie Bowling, 45, was a radiation oncology therapist at Nash General Hospital and also worked with Mark Bowling in his funeral home business.

Visitation for Julie Bowling will be from 3 to 8 p.m today at Bowling Funeral Home & Crematory.