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Man accused of killing Charlotte bride-to-be no longer in Nevada jail

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Overnight, Channel 9 learned that the man accused of murdering a young bride-to-be and setting her southwest Charlotte apartment on fire is no longer behind bars in Nevada.

Matthew Benner has been released from the Nye County Jail after spending the last 10 days there, but officials could not confirm with Channel 9 if Benner was on his way back to Charlotte Thursday morning.

Benner was arrested in Nevada 10 days ago and Charlotte-Mecklenburg detectives traveled there to start the extradition process.

Channel 9 was at police headquarters uptown early Thursday morning to see if Benner had been returned to Charlotte and booked in the jail, but there was no word from police officials.

Benner is accused of killing Amanda Strous at her Steele Creek apartment earlier this month and then setting her home on fire.

Police said Benner lived in the apartment directly above Strous, and may have been stalking her.

He fled to Nevada after the crime, but was caught. Since then, investigators went through Benner's apartment and told Channel 9 they found personal items of Strous' as well as Benner's diary, which police said was filled with disturbing entries.

The accused killer faced a judge in Nevada last week and did not fight CMPD's request to have him brought back to Mecklenburg County.

Police could not confirm is Benner was on his way back to Charlotte early Thursday morning, and the U.S. Marshal’s service has not returned Channel 9’s calls.

Check back with wsoctv.com for updates on this story.

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