CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A 41-year-old man and a 33-year-old woman have been arrested and charged with the killing of a man who was discovered by a Charlotte dog walker last month.
Shamario Tyeast Bethea was arrested on Tuesday and charged with murder, kidnapping and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Little was immediately known about where Bethea was located but the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department did credit both the Hickory Police Department and United States Secret Service for assisting the investigation. When contacted by WCNC Charlotte, the U.S. Secret Service could not disclose their specific involvement in this case.
Bionnah Jeanna Massey was also arrested Tuesday and is charged with murder and kidnapping.
Both Bethea and Massey are accused of killing Curtis Gregory Lampkin.
The body of the 24-year-old was found in a wooded area in Charlotte on Oct. 7.
Amanda Hebblethwaite, who runs a dog day care and lodging business in the area, said she was walking one of the dogs in her care along the treeline near Peachtree Drive when the Rottweiler made the discovery.
"I had him on a longer lead, and he started pulling really hard into the woods," Hebblethwaite said. "Then, I noticed somebody was laying there, so I started yelling out to the guy like, 'Hey, are you OK?'"
She and another person from the nearby business park called 911, after which first responders came and confirmed the man was dead.
Hebblethwaite said the horrific discovery comes as she's been asking police for extra patrols in the area for months.
"There's been suspicious vehicles parked on the side of the road," Hebblethwaite said. "Sometimes, it's just kids ... other times, who knows what they're doing back here at night."
Anyone with information is asked to call Charlotte Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600 immediately. Witnesses can also call 704-432-TIPS to speak directly with homicide detectives.
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