Officials identify murder weapon in Stallings homicide

STALLINGS, N.C. — A man was arrested Thursday in connection with the death of a Monroe man whose body was found Saturday in a wooded area in Stallings, according to special agents with the North Carolina Bureau of Investigation.

Keith Edward McCarthy, 41, of Monroe, is charged with first-degree murder, robbery with a dangerous weapon and concealing the death of Jaime Toledano Hernandez, 41, of Monroe.

Investigators said McCarthy killed Hernandez at his home on Tucker Street in Monroe, and then dumped his remains inside a barrel and left it in the woods in Stallings about 20 minutes away.

In court Friday, McCarthy asked for a public defender and the judge denied him bond. The State Bureau of Investigation told reporter Angela Hong that the murder weapon used in the case was an aluminum bat. SBI officials said they believe the primary motive was robbery and said McCarthy stole $1,381 from Hernandez.

Officials said they believe McCarthy was familiar with the area where Hernandez’s decomposed and dismembered body was found by a hunter last week.

Read our past coverage:

• SBI: Man arrested after decomposed body found in barrel

Hernandez's wife filed a police report Tuesday and said she hadn't seen her husband for weeks.

Armondo Johnson lives in the neighborhood near the suspect.  He said McCarthy works construction and he saw him all the time.

“He walked around here like nothing was wrong with him that's all I can tell you,” Johnson said.

Hernandez's neighbors couldn't believe the news.

"I'm very shocked especially right here in the neighborhood. It's a hard pill to swallow," Larry Harris said.

Investigators said Friday, someone scouting in the woods near Smith Farm Road and Stallings Road made the discovery.

Channel 9 confirmed Hernandez was arrested in May 2014 for allegedly peeping at a woman through a secret hole as she showered.  Investigators said they're still trying to figure out a motive in this case.

Ethel Scott lives next door to Hernandez’s wife and said she feels for her neighbor.

“I feel bad for her,” Scott said. “Because [Hernandez] has a little girl. That’s why his wife was trying to keep in touch with him so the little girl could have a father.”

McCarthy is due back in court on Aug. 20 and investigators have not ruled out the fact that other people could be involved.

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WSOC