CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - It was a year of change in 1961. John F. Kennedy was sworn in as the nation's 35th president. In Europe, the Berlin Wall was completed, becoming a symbol of the Cold War.

Closer to home in North Carolina, protests at a movie theater in Durham eventually led to the opening of segregated movie theaters across the U.S.

But right here in Charlotte all those years ago, another story was unfolding -- one that would grab the nation's attention. The story involved a flamboyant multi-millionaire who was one of the city's wealthiest real estate developers, and a divorced secretary.

George King Cutter was a husband and a father -- but he was also a man who had a taste for alcohol and women.

One of those women was Delette Nycum. While little is known about her, we do know a few things: She was murdered, and she was Cutter's mistress.

"It was a huge scandal," said author David Aaron Moore. "I think it was pretty shocking for people in the city at the time."

Moore -- author of the book "Charlotte: Murder, Mystery and Mayhem" -- has done extensive research on the Cutter murder case. Moore said Nycum worked as Cutter's secretary, and that the two had an affair that lasted "several years."

Nycum and Cutter would reportedly meet each other at Cutter's renovated RV-style bus. That's where police say Nycum was murdered on July 4, 1961, and where Cutter said he found her body.

But Cutter didn't call the police that day. Instead, he put Nycum's body in his car and drove to her home, where her 15-year-old son also lived.

According to his own words reported by the Charlotte Observer back then, Cutter told the boy to say that he had found his mother's body at their home. Cutter apparently said there was no reason to have any notoriety, because Nycum's death would've happened anywhere.

Not long after Cutter left, police were called to Nycum's home. Hours later, Cutter returned to the home and, after being questioned by police, was charged with first-degree murder.

Prosecutors thought the evidence clearly proved Cutter was guilty. But was he?

During the trial -- which was essentially the OJ Simpson trial of its time -- prosecutors argued that Cutter and Nycum had an argument at the bus, and that Cutter beat her to death. The defense argued that Nycum died from acute alcoholism.

Cutter took the stand in his own defense and denied that he beat Nycum or killed her. When asked why he moved the body, he said he did so to avoid a scandal and publicity.

The trial lasted less than two weeks. After four-and-a-half hours of deliberation, the jury came back with a not guilty verdict.

Watch the full WBTV: True Crime Carolinas segment in the video player up above.

We are bringing viewers an all new feature series called "WBTV: True Crime Carolinas," and I'm going to be hosting it.

It's part of WBTV's philosophy of being On Your Side.

We're going to be bringing you stories of unsolved -- and solved -- crime cases in the Carolinas that deserve your attention.

Some of them will be stories you'll recognize ... while some of them will be stories you aren't aware of. Many happened decades ago. Others are more recent.

We've come across many fascinating cases we think you'll be very interested in hearing about.

And if you have any ideas or suggestions about true crime stories you'd like to see, please don't hesitate to email me right here. We love to hear from you!