NC Man Arrested After Roommate Found Dead, Buried in Backyard- Elvin Noel Baca, a 34-year-old man from North Carolina, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and concealment/failure to report a death after his roommate, Lawrence Grabka, was found buried in a shallow grave in the backyard of their shared home.
Grabka, a 69-year-old man, had been reported missing by a friend, leading to a welfare check by deputies. During their investigation, they discovered Grabka’s body in a shallow grave in the backyard.
The discovery was made after a woman reported to the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office that her friend had not answered his phone and that his door was unlocked when she visited. She found Grabka’s phone and wallet in the home but could not locate him. The sheriff’s office concluded that Grabka was killed and buried in the backyard.
Katherine Roush, a close friend of Grabka, expressed her concerns about Baca, describing him as someone who was not right and warned Grabka about him. Roush recalled the last time she saw Baca, suspecting that he had already killed Grabka before burying him in the backyard.
Elvin Noel Baca, 34, was arrested Wednesday in the 5000 block of Myrtle Grove Road on charges of first degree murder and conceal/fail report a death. Click the image to read more. https://t.co/MGRQyEBtaU
— WWAY News (@WWAY) March 28, 2024
She described Baca as a man who smiled at her and told her he loved her, an image she found deeply disturbing. Roush remembered Grabka as a kind-hearted friend who was always there for her. In court, Baca was held without bond and was appointed to the capital defender’s office. Sheriff Edward McMahon expressed his deep concern for the circumstances surrounding the case and the victim’s loved ones.
