HICKORY, N.C. — The man accused of killing a woman at a Hickory motel and leaving her body under a bed went before a judge early Monday.
Ricky Payne, 40, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Loretta Chadwick, 48, of Hickory.
An employee found Chadwick's body Friday morning after a smell began emanating from a room at a Motel 6 on Thirteenth Avenue. An autopsy has been completed but authorities are waiting on toxicology reports to determine how the woman died.
Payne, who is also from Hickory, is being held in the Catawba County Jail without bond. He is also charged with resisting, obstructing and delaying an officer and possession of drug paraphernalia.
A couple stayed in the room for three days after Payne checked out but did not report anything strange. Officers found and questioned them but said they were not connected to the crime.
WSOC
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/LH3JSJEF3VBLRJLJQESEAG34AM.png)
