On the afternoon of April 13, police found the body of Derek Tyrone Mack, 34, of Raleigh, inside that vehicle on Dickens Court in Chapel Hill after a 9-year-old boy saw the car engulfed in flames and called 911.
Investigators determined that the death was a homicide and the trail eventually led to Gabriel Cortez Peele, 31, of Chapel Hill, who was being held at the Wake County Detention Center on unrelated charges.
Peele was charged with first-degree murder, police said Thursday. He was also charged with assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to kill inflicting serious injury, possession of firearm by felon, armed robbery, and conspiracy improper disposal of a body.
He remains in jail without bond.
The case is still an active investigation.
Anyone with information on this case should call 911 or contact the Chapel Hill Police Department at (919) 968-2760 (8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday). Callers who wish to remain anonymous can call Chapel Hill-Carrboro-UNC Crimestoppers at (919) 942-7515.
NOTE: Video is from a previous report.