Should I tell her I've filed for eviction in hopes that she'll pay the rent and leave in lieu of going to court?

With all respect to @Andrew Boettcher's comment, I wouldn't go for the eviction court jugular just yet. 

I would probably see if I could find the court documents to see what actually happened, and I would take the age of both the crime and the offender into account.

Anyone in Raleigh/Durham area generate wholesale leads with probates from the court house?

Closing date contingent upon court/attorney approval... 

court appearance, paper signing, etc?

In theory you could try to bring him to small claims court and seek a settlement but I highly doubt that would be worth the trouble, and tenants know this. 

Until an heir has the legal authority to sell, you can’t buy it.If not, get a copy of her death certificate, I don’t remember how I did it, you’ll have to google it up.....it should show some surviving heir/contact.You might check the county records, Clerk of Court, Official Records search, to see what mtgs/liens may be on the property....it may be upside down and any heir has No incentive to do a short sale on a probate probate property.

The SFR was bought & paid for from the rental income of a local company who rented it (& rehabbed it @ their expense) for their executives for about 8 years, now we rent it exclusively to the incoming Coast Guard Chiefs (14th year). 

My worry is that the similar names will make the companies "linked" in the eyes of the court if we are ever sued?