Durham murder suspect arrested in Louisiana
NEW ORLEANS (WTVD) -- The man accused of killing another man and leaving him on the side of the road in Durham was arrested in Louisiana this week.
Franklin Martinez's body was found at Redwood Road and I-85 North near Falls Lake on June 28. Martinez suffered multiple gunshot wounds.
READ MORE: BODY FOUND ALONG I-85 NEAR FALLS LAKE IDENTIFIED
After uncovering evidence related to the homicide, investigators named Edu Antonio Varela-Lopez as their primary suspect. Varela-Lopez also goes by the name "Tony Ochoa."
Varela-Lopez fled to New Orleans within two hours of the homicide, officials said. He was reportedly staying with relatives in the Parish area.
Law enforcement in New Orleans partnered with the Durham Sheriff's Office to find Varela-Lopez.
Varela-Lopez was found on Tuesday after a short manhunt in a local housing project that was under construction. According to authorities, Varela-Lopez was attempting to hide and flee from law enforcement during the capture.
Varela-Lopez is currently awaiting transportation back to North Carolina.
He is charged with first-degree murder and has an outstanding warrant from 2014 for possession of a concealed handgun.
The investigation is continuing and the Durham County Sheriff's Office Investigations Division is asking that anyone with information regarding Edu Antonio Varela Lopez and the homicide of Franklin Martinez are asked to contact Det. Reimann at (919) 560-0896 or Crime-stoppers at (919)683-1200.
