RALEIGH, N.C. — Assistant District Attorney Susan Spurlin said she will drop all the charges against Antonio Chance of Garner except first-degree murder in connection with the death of Cynthia Moreland.

Spurlin dismissed charges of kidnapping and obtaining property by false pretenses at the court appearance. She said the court will allow the state to use evidence from those charges to build the case against Chance.

Moreland was last seen early Aug. 22 when she dropped her husband off at work. She pulled her car into a downtown Raleigh parking garage a short time later and is believed to have been kidnapped.

Her abandoned car was found the next day in southeast Raleigh, and her body was found behind a barn in Harnett County on Sept. 2.

If convicted, Chance could face the death penalty.