Local

Police identify woman found dead near golf course in Morganton

MORGANTON, N.C. — A man is in custody after authorities found a woman’s body near a golf course Thursday morning in Morganton.

Channel 9′s Dave Faherty was at the scene on Golf Course Road, near the Mimosa Hills Golf Club around 9 a.m. where deputies were working closely with Morganton Public Safety on the case.

According to the Burke County Sheriff’s Office, the woman, identified as 24-year-old Christina Marie Hernandez, was found dead near the entrance to the golf club, on the side of the road.

Investigators believe Hernandez had been at a home on Golf Course Road, and deputies arrested 33-year-old Joshua Epley. He has been charged with concealment of a death.

Investigators said Epley was the one who first alerted police to the woman’s death shortly after 1 a.m. The investigation is ongoing and no other details have been released.

The golf course, which is private, was closed all morning as deputies and public safety officers conducted their investigation.

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