Arrest made after man found dead inside Catawba County home

MAIDEN, N.C. — Deputies have made an arrest two days after a man was found dead inside a home in Catawba County.

Early Friday morning, Channel 9 learned authorities arrested Justin Dalton. According to the Catawba County Sheriff's Office, a deputy spotted Dalton in a car on Springs Road. After a brief foot chase, he was taken into custody.

He has been charged with murder as well as larceny of a motor vehicle, and will make his first court appearance Monday. He was also charged with two 2017 warrants: misdemeanor child abuse and driving with a revoked license.

(Dalton)

On Thursday, Channel 9's Dave Faherty could see deputies outside the home on Sigmon Dairy Road where Emden Syres, 47, was found dead in his bedroom the day before.

A neighbor, who did not want to be identified, was shocked that Syres was found dead.

“I prayed that it wasn’t Emden,” the woman said.

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She said he helped her and her husband a lot, even taking her to the hospital when she was sick.

“He picked me up. He took me to the hospital and waited and brought me home,” the neighbor said.  “There’s not too many people you could call at 11 at night that would do something like that.”

Syres' co-workers at American Airlines called authorities after he didn't show up for work Tuesday or Wednesday.

Deputies had been looking for Dalton, 32, from the beginning.

Syres car was also missing and deputies believe Dalton took the 2016 black Honda Accord.

“In the front of the residence, here, there are some trajectory rods where you can see them coming out of the residence, now,” Catawba County Chief Deputy Brian Kelly said. “No signs of forced entry, but the back door was ajar.”

Family members and friends said Dalton, who is from Alexander County, occasionally lived at the home with Syres.

"We found out earlier Dalton is from the Hiddenite area of Alexander County but hasn’t been back to his family's home much in the last several years," Kelly said.

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Cox Media Group