CATAWBA COUNTY, N.C.,None — Lost for nearly a year, investogators Friday pulled a key piece of evidence in a murder investigation from a popular fishing spot.
However, deputies do not want to disclose what the evidence is so the case is not compromised.
The North Catawba Fire and Rescue Squad dive team had been searching the Mill Pond in Granite Falls for eight hours before locating the evidence.
Last June, 19-year-old Harley Carter and Kevin Shatley were shot to death. Their charred remains found after their car was set on fire in Rhodhiss. Investigators made three arrest in the case including Carter's former boyfriend, Justin Hester, who is facing capital murder.
Almost a year later, divers brought that key piece of evidence to shore. Investigators threw the dive team a small cooler and the diver then placed the evidence in the cooler in the water.
Deputies believe it was possibly thrown off the bridge maybe from a car.
"I could tell what it was by feeling and I felt very relieved that we were able to help the sheriff's department in their case," said diver Jason Holder.
"We're just excited that we found this piece of evidence," said Cpt. Brian Bennett with Caldwell County Sheriff's Office
Investigators said they used the cooler because they want to preserve the evidence in the cooler with the water from the pond. That evidence will be sent off the a state lab for testing.