Charlotte apartment murder suspect held on ICE detainer after girlfriend’s decomposing body found in closet at Peppertree Apartments
Charlotte police arrested 23-year-old Lhis Birito Costa after officers found the decomposing body of her girlfriend, 26-year-old Evelin Carolina Enamorado-Cisnado, hidden in a closet at Peppertree Apartments during a welfare check prompted by a delivery driver’s report.
Key takeaways
- Victim: Evelin Carolina Enamorado-Cisnado, 26. Sources: CMPD press release; Local 12.
- Suspect: Lhis Birito Costa, 23, described in court records as an illegal immigrant from Honduras; charged with first-degree murder. Sources: CMPD; Fox News.
- Location & timeline: 4300 block of Central Avenue, Peppertree Apartments; welfare check ~4:30 p.m. March 10, 2026; Costa arrested March 11, first court appearance March 12 and held without bond. Sources: WSOCTV, CMPD.
- ICE detainer: Mecklenburg County confirmed Immigration and Customs Enforcement placed a detainer asking to be notified before any release. Source: Fox News.
How the case unfolded
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officers were dispatched to an apartment in the 4300 block of Central Avenue after a DoorDash driver reported a strong, foul odor and told a relative or building contact that someone inside might be dead. The welfare check occurred at about 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 10, according to CMPD’s public statement.
When officers entered the unit, detectives found the body of Evelin Carolina Enamorado-Cisnado concealed behind a door inside a closet and wrapped in towels and blankets. Investigators said the body had begun to decompose, indicating she had been dead for some time before discovery. Local reporting that reviewed court documents and police statements reported the grim scene (Fox News; Local 12).
Arrest, charges and court
Authorities located and arrested Lhis Birito Costa on March 11. After an interview with homicide detectives at CMPD’s Law Enforcement Center, she was charged with first-degree murder and transferred to the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office. At her first court appearance on March 12, a judge ordered she be held without bond.
Name variations: Early reports included inconsistent spellings such as Lhis Brito-Costa and Leah Brito Costa; CMPD and court records confirm Lhis Birito Costa.
ICE detainer and custody status
Mecklenburg County officials confirmed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) placed a detainer on Costa, requesting to be notified before any potential release. The county sheriff’s office said Costa remains in custody at the county jail while the homicide investigation continues (Fox News).
Investigation status and public information
CMPD described the matter as an active homicide investigation and asked anyone with information to contact the Homicide Unit at 704-432-8477. The department listed Detective Grazier-Zerbarini as the homicide lead in its public newsroom item (CMPD release).
Neighbors at the Peppertree Apartments reported a heavy police presence after the discovery. Some residents said they had not noticed anything unusual at the unit before the welfare check, while others noted recent incidents of violence at the complex and expressed heightened concern about safety in the area (WSOCTV).
Sources and reporting
This account draws from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s newsroom release and multiple local outlets that obtained court papers and interviewed officials, including CMPD, Local 12, WSOCTV, and national coverage in Fox News. Video segments and early reporting are publicly available (video segments and early reporting).
Legal and community context
The charge of first-degree murder carries severe penalties under North Carolina law. Authorities continue to collect evidence, interview witnesses and review forensic details as the case proceeds through the court system. Investigators have not released a full motive beyond the suspect’s statement to police that she shot the victim after learning of a possible relationship with someone else, as noted in court documents (Fox News).
The presence of an ICE detainer highlights the intersection of criminal justice and immigration enforcement. Detainers request that local jails notify ICE before release so federal officials can decide whether to assume custody. Supporters say they aid enforcement of federal immigration laws; critics argue detainers raise constitutional and due-process concerns. Mecklenburg County confirmed the detainer is in place per media reports.
Implications for San Diego, California
Although this homicide occurred in Charlotte, the case has local policy resonance in cities like San Diego that have large immigrant communities and border ties. Key implications include:
- Economic & public-safety debate: High-profile cases can influence local discussions about resource allocation, community policing and collaboration with federal immigration authorities.
- Political consequences: Elected leaders may face renewed pressure to clarify positions on cooperation with ICE and public-safety partnerships.
- Social effects: Graphic reporting may heighten fear among renters; community groups may worry that emphasis on immigration status chills cooperation with law enforcement.
- Practical steps: Property managers and delivery services can review welfare-check procedures and emergency-response coordination; law enforcement may reassess outreach to immigrant communities.
Public resources and how to help
Anyone with information about the Charlotte case is asked to contact CMPD’s Homicide Unit at 704-432-8477. Residents concerned about local policy, housing safety or tenant protections in San Diego should contact their city council offices, tenant unions and community service organizations to raise issues and seek guidance.
Reporting note
This article is based on the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department newsroom release and reporting by local and national outlets, including CMPD, Local 12, WSOCTV, and Fox News. Authorities have described the investigation as active and asked anyone with information to contact CMPD’s Homicide Unit at 704-432-8477.
