Bath murder suspects indicted | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Three men were officially accused today and yesterday of the murder of Bath resident Leonard Alfred Willson III. On Wednesday, Arturo Lopez-Perez, age 16, of O'Neal Hill Drive in Belhaven, and Domonic Kidean Farrow, age 23, of Mapletown Lane in Swan Quarter, were officially served with the Indictments; and today, Martel Deval Weston, age 22, of 671 Pamlico St. in Belhaven, was served with the Indictment.

    On Dec. 13, Lt. Jamie Cahoon presented the case to a Beaufort County Grand Jury. As a result, the Grand Jury returned True Bills of Indictment on Perez, Weston and Farrow for the original Murder charges and the additional charges of First Degree Burglary, First Degree Arson, Armed Robbery and Felony Larceny.

    After their initial arrests in October, they were held in the Beaufort County Detention Center without bond. A $1,000,000 secured bond was later issued to Perez, Weston and Farrow in District Court. With their indictments, each received an additional $100,000 secured bond.

    Willson, the murder victim, was a 53-year-old paraplegic and had lived in Bath approximately 15 years. He could frequently be seen cycling in and around Bath on his recumbent hand-cycle. He was found dead at his home at 115 South Main St. in Bath, at 12:40 p.m. on Oct. 7, 2010, by the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office, after they received a report of a deceased male. The Sheriff's Office secured the property and began an investigation. During a search of the crime scene, investigators determined that the death was a homicide.

    Preliminary results from the autopsy indicate that Willson's cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head. As investigators worked multiple leads, Beaufort County Crime Stoppers received a tip indicating a possible suspect. Investigators identified the suspect as Arturo Lopez-Perez and set up surveillance on his residence. On Oct. 14, a search warrant was obtained and served at the Lopez-Perez's residence in Belhaven. Evidence was collected and processed. Interviews were also being conducted to develop additional leads. At approximately 11 p.m., investigators learned that Lopez-Perez had been arrested by the Pitt County Sheriff's Office for Resist, Delay and Obstruct a Public Officer. Investigators traveled to Greenville and spoke with Lopez-Perez. Lopez-Perez returned to Beaufort County with investigators and was interviewed.

    As a result of information collected during the investigation, Lt. Jamie Cahoon applied for and obtained a warrant charging Lopez-Perez with Murder in the death of Willson.

    Investigators then applied for and obtained a search warrant for the home and vehicle of Weston. On the morning of Oct. 15, Deputies and investigators with the Sheriff's Office served the search warrant at 671 Pamlico St. in Belhaven and arrested Weston. Weston was charged with Murder in the death Willson.

    On Oct. 25, Lt. Jamie Cahoon arrested Farrow, with assistance from Hyde County Probation and Parole Officers. Farrow was charged with Murder for his involvement in the death of Willson. The investigation is ongoing, and investigators have recovered items stolen from the murder scene.