CATAWBA COUNTY, N.C. — Sheriff deputies in Catawba County are investigating a homicide after a deadly dispute between a landlord and tenant south of Hickory.
Witnesses said the landlord used a baseball bat to kill the tenant in his backyard.
Investigators are checking to see if the baseball bat was hidden in the back of the suspect’s car.
Roberta Arreola was charged with murder after deputies found the body of Jose Figueroa in his yard along Lucky Lane. He died at an area hospital.
Police initially responded to a disorderly conduct call around 9:15 p.m. Wednesday.
Arreola was in the neighborhood after the killing and was taken into custody, investigators said.
The suspect rented out space to several people inside his home, witnesses said.
Deputies are confirming that there were several witnesses to the beating, including a woman who said Figueroa was trying to protect people inside the house before he was killed.
“He didn’t deserve the death and the way he died,” said Brittney Farley, a witness. “He was trying to protect me and this woman at the time.”
Several people at the home Thursday said Arreola, who also lived there, charged several people to stay there with him.
“Roberto, like she said, changed a lot,” said Francisco Guadarrama, a tenant. “Like he was very aggressive, and I never expected something like that, you know.”
Farley says she still can’t believe she saw the brutal killing and what she saw immediately afterward.
“He swung really violently and then threw a gun on Jose to make it like he had a weapon,” Farley said.
Channel 9 confirmed from deputies that Arreola was in the country illegally. The judge denied bond in the case and prosecutors said they plan to go to the grand jury on Monday.
“We are being informed that the defendant is in the country illegally,” said Maj. Aaron Turk, Catawba County Sheriff’s Office. “ And we are working with immigration customs enforcement to obtain a detainer.”
No additional details have been made available.
This is a developing story. Check back with wsoctv.com and watch Eyewitness News for updates.
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