Suspects face more indictments in Carson case

HILLSBOROUGH, NC The grand jury indicted Demario Atwater, 22, and Laurence Lovette, Jr.,17, with murder on Monday. They also charged Atwater with armed robbery, first degree kidnapping, possession of firearm by felon, felonious larceny, felonious possession of stolen goods, possession of weapon of mass destruction --shotgun. Lovette has also been charged with armed robbery, first degree kidnapping, felonious larceny, felonious possession of stolen goods. The Rule 24 hearing to determine whether Atwater will face the death penalty if convicted was rescheduled for August 11. Woodall said the court wanted to give Eve Carson's family the option to attend the hearing if they should decide to watch the proceedings.

But, search warrants released last week in the murder case suggest the two suspects kidnapped, robbed and fatally shot Carson.

The search warrants also said confidential informants told police Atwater and Lovette took Carson from her Chapel Hill home. But, investigators say they aren't certain if both men actually entered the house. They do believe the suspects encountered Carson near her home. An autopsy report said Carson was shot at least five times with a shotgun and a pistol. Her body was found in a secluded Chapel Hill neighborhood not far from the UNC campus on March 5.

The murder investigation is a joint effort by Chapel Hill Police, the State Bureau of Investigation, Durham Police and the FBI. Federal investigators are looking into a variety of charges.