LUMBERTON, N.C. (WNCN) – A 34-year-old man has been arrested and charged in the Nov. 5 kidnapping and murder of 13-year-old Hania Noelia Aguilar, the FBI announced early Saturday.
UPDATE: Hundreds attend emotional funeral for slain Lumberton teen Hania Aguilar
Michael Ray McLellan was already in custody in connection with an attempted robbery in Fairmont in October.
McLellan faces 10 felony charges in connection with Hania’s kidnapping and death:
- First-degree murder
- First-degree forcible rape
- Statutory rape of a person under 15 years of age or younger
- First-degree sexual offense
- Statutory sex offense with a person 15 years or younger
- First-degree kidnapping
- Felony larceny
- Felony restraint
- Abduction of child
- Concealment of a death
The FBI said Hania was kidnapped when she was forced into an SUV outside her home in the Rosewood Mobile Home Park on Nov. 5.
UPDATE: Hundreds attend emotional funeral for slain Lumberton teen Hania Aguilar
Her body was found Nov. 27.
That SUV was recovered Nov. 8 and underwent a forensic exam at the FBI’s lab at Quantico near Washington.
The North Carolina State Crime Lab returned information gained from tests on Aguilar’s body on Dec. 7.
Those test results led to the arrest of McLellan, the FBI said.
UPDATE: Hundreds attend emotional funeral for slain Lumberton teen Hania Aguilar
He’s being held without bond at the Robeson County Detention Center.
McLellan is scheduled to appear in court Monday at 9 a.m.
The FBI said more charges could be filed in the case.
McLellan was already in custody after being charged on Nov. 13 in connection with an Oct. 15 attempted robbery in Fairmont, court documents show.
Warrants say McLellan was wearing a mask and armed with a gun when he tried to steal money and a car from a woman.
UPDATE: Hundreds attend emotional funeral for slain Lumberton teen Hania Aguilar
He surrendered to authorities and was charged with attempted robbery and second-degree kidnapping.
CBS 17 will update this story as it develops.
