North Carolina Teen Charged After Police Say He Beat and Strangled His Uncle to Death in Charlotte Backyard
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA — A 19-year-old man is behind bars after police say he brutally beat and strangled his uncle to death in the backyard of a family home, leaving behind a chaotic scene of broken furniture, blood drops, and a shattered stone paver.
Suspect Told Relatives to “Come Outside” After the Killing
Authorities say Christian Heredia Caraballo, 19, has been charged with the murder of his uncle, 50-year-old Ernesto Caraballo Toledo. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department confirmed the arrest Tuesday, though the killing occurred on October 18.
Around 2 a.m., Caraballo allegedly walked inside the home on Wembley Drive and told two sleeping family members that “something happened and they needed to come outside.” When they saw him, he reportedly had cuts on his hands and what appeared to be an injury to his ear, injuries he could not explain.
The relatives called 911 immediately.
Victim Found With Fatal Head Trauma; Blood and Damage Found Across Home
Responding officers discovered Toledo on the ground in the backyard, suffering from catastrophic head injuries. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.
Investigators noted extensive signs of violence, including:
- A broken stone paver, believed to be the murder weapon
- Overturned and broken furniture in the yard
- Blood drops and smeared handprints across the backyard, kitchen, and living room
The two family members at the scene gave consistent accounts that they had been asleep until Caraballo alerted them. Caraballo, however, told police he found Toledo already dead and did not know how the blood or damage occurred.
Autopsy Reveals Strangulation; DNA Links Suspect to Murder Weapon
An autopsy later revealed that Toledo had not only suffered head trauma but had also been strangled, contradicting the suspect’s account.
Police say Caraballo’s DNA matched samples taken from:
- The broken paver
- Under the victim’s fingernails
- A suspected bite mark on the victim’s arm
Authorities have not identified a motive for the violent confrontation, though the investigation remains ongoing.
Suspect Held Without Bond Ahead of December Court Date
Caraballo is being held without bond at the Mecklenburg County Detention Center. His next court appearance is scheduled for December 23.
Stay with ChicagoMusicGuide.com for developing crime updates, national breaking news, and court case coverage across the U.S.