LANCASTER, S.C. — A Lancaster man was charged with murder in connection with the death of a man who was found dead at a home three months ago, police said.
Lancaster Police found 44-year-old Jaime Leonives Paz Nejera dead at a home on Westgate Circle on May 15. Investigators collected evidence at the scene and were able to identify 21-year-old Jimmy Kenneth Knight as a suspect in Nejera's death.
Knight was already in jail on unrelated charges when he was served a warrant for murder on Aug. 5, police said. Knight was denied bond during a first hearing on the murder charge Monday.
“Our detectives and officers worked a lot of hours investigating this case and established the evidence needed to obtain warrants on the suspect," Police Chief Don Roper said in a news release. "I am proud of the dedication and hard work our officers and detectives demonstrated in this case to seek justice for Mr. Paz Nejera's family."
Anyone with information about this case is asked to call Lancaster police at 803-283-3313. Witnesses may also call the anonymous tip line at 803-289-6040.
If your loved one was impacted by this incident, WCNC Charlotte hopes to make this process less painful with our More Than A Number initiative. With your help, we want to share who your loved one was with our viewers in North Carolina and South Carolina. When you're ready, fill out the form below or send us photos, memories and other details about them to desk@wcnc.com.
Note: WCNC instituted a policy in March 2021 regarding the broadcast or posting of mugshots.
WCNC will only air or post a mugshot if the person has been formally charged with a crime and in a few other cases. The exceptions include: If it appears the person could be a danger to themselves or others or if they are wanted by authorities; to differentiate between people with a common name; if the photos could encourage more victims to come forward. The news-editorial leadership may also decide to use a mugshot based on the severity of the crime(s) committed and/or the level of public interest in the crime and ensuing criminal proceedings.
WCNC Charlotte is choosing to show the mugshot of the suspect in this case due to the serious nature of his charges.