UNION COUNTY, N.C. -- Detectives arrested five men on Friday in the murders of a couple whose children were asleep when they were shot.

Police served murder warrants on Mario Organistas, Rufino Santamaria, Luis Gomez, and two 17-year-olds, Ubaldo and Ivan Martinez.

Investigators said the break in the case came with several law enforcement agencies compared notes on other violent crimes, including two earlier shootings and one shooting that occurred after the murders. The suspects have not been charged in the other crimes.

Maria Celedon and Armando Delangel were shot and killed in their home on Secrest Short Cut Road in Union County on December first.

Their two children were inside asleep when their parents were shot.

Investigators say they believe the motive behind the murders was robbery.

Investigators found 800-thousand dollars worth of cocaine and 46-thousand dollars cash in a shed behind the couple's home.

The couple's two children are the custody of the Department of Social Services.