Warrant establishes timeline for Cary woman's death

Cary, N.C. — A search warrant released by Cary Police Wednesday clarified the timeline in the death of Maria Teresa Herrera-Diaz.

Herrera-Diaz was found dead by her roommates Saturday morning at their home at 102 Dunhagen Place.

After a preliminary autopsy, police ruled her death a homicide, and issued a warrant for her boyfriend, Arnulfo Cobos, who also lived at the home.

According to the warrant, Herrera-Diaz and Cobos were seen together at the house at 11 p.m.

Cobos woke another resident of the home at 4 a.m. to say that he was going to work. Cobos asked the man, Elezar Diaz, Maria’s brother, to wake Maria at 7 a.m.

Elezar Diaz told police that he went back to sleep until 8 a.m. Police were called to the home shortly after 8 a.m.

Cobos did not report to work at the LaTapita Supermarket in Raleigh as scheduled Saturday, and his whereabouts were unknown, police said.

On Monday, police issued an all-points-bulletin for the car Cobos was believed to be driving -- a silver 2004 Saturn L-300, with North Carolina license plate number XWT-5469.

According to the warrant, the car belonged to the homeowner, Leonardo Sanchez Diaz.

Leonardo Sanchez Diaz consented to the search of the house, where police collected some bedding and clothes and come written and electronic documents.

Police described Cobos as an Hispanic man, about 50 years old, standing 5 feet 6 to 7 inches tall and weighing 200 pounds. In a picture distributed by police, he has a mustache, and police said he also has a goatee.

Anyone with information related to this incident should call the Cary Police Department Watch Commander at 919-469-4016.