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Raleigh Police Say Murder Victim May Have Been Targeted By Her Attacker

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RALEIGH, N.C. — June 22, 2000

Raleigh police are investigating the murder of a Raleigh woman.

Police say the body of Juliann Bolt, 32, was found found just before 10 p.m. Wednesday in the clubhouse at the Cameron Lake Apartments near Crabtree Valley Mall.

Fernando Luis Garcia, 32, of Raleigh was arrested Thursday morning and charged murder, first-degree rape and attempted robbery.

With 15 murders so far in 2000, Raleigh is on its way to surpass last year's total of 16. Raleigh police say they have made arrests in all but 3 of the murders this year.

So far this year, Durham has two more murders, but since 1998, the numbers have been equally alarming.

Police say Bolt was working out in the gym, which is located in the clubhouse. Investigators say she was raped and bludgeoned to death.

"It was probably more brutal than most," says Capt. D.S. Overman of the Raleigh Police Department. "She seemed to be doing all the things one would do to ensure their safety."

A security code is necessary to enter the gym, but investigators say that was not enough.

"Other people who live at the complex would have access to the keycode and the door and that's obviously what happened," says Overman.

An off-duty Raleigh police officer who lives in the complex saw a man running from the scene. That led investigators to their suspect.

Garcia apparently lived in the same apartment complex. Investigators say he may have been watching Bolt for a while.

"The suspect saw an opportunity and acted on it. It appears she was targeted," says Overman.

Police believe robbery and rape were the motives in this case.

Capt. Overman says Garcia has lived in Raleigh for some time, and has no criminal history.

Garcia is scheduled to make his first court appearance Friday at 2 p.m.

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