Man charged with Hania Aguilar's murder on day of teen's funeral

A 34-year-old man already in police custody was charged early Saturday with the kidnapping, rape and murder of Hania Aguilar, whose abduction from her Lumberton front yard and disappearance riveted the state for three weeks until her body was found in a nearby pond.

Posted 8:37 a.m. Dec 8, 2018 — Updated 10:14 p.m. Dec 10, 2018

Gilbert Baez

, WRAL reporter

LUMBERTON, N.C. — A 34-year-old man already in police custody was charged early Saturday with the kidnapping, rape and murder of Hania Aguilar, whose abduction from her Lumberton front yard and disappearance riveted the state for three weeks until her body was found in a nearby pond.

Lumberton police charged Michael Ray McLellan with 10 felonies:

first-degree murder,
first-degree forcible rape and statutory rape of a person 15 or younger,
first-degree sex offense and statutory sex offense with a person 15 or younger,
first-degree kidnapping,
larceny,
restraint,
abduction of a child and
concealment of a death.

McLellan was being held in Robeson County Jail on an unrelated kidnapping charge when authorities added the charges in Hania's case. He is being held without bond and is expected to make a first court appearance on those charges on Monday.

McLellan, of 513 Marvin St. in Fairmont, was arrested Nov. 13 and charged with second-degree kidnapping, possession of a firearm by a felon and attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon in connection with an Oct. 15 attack in Fairmont.

McLellan's name surfaced in online rumors as a possible suspect within hours of when Hania's body was found, but authorities did not confirm his connection with Hania's disappearance and death until Saturday.

The arrest came just hours before a funeral for Hania was held at Lumberton High School, followed by a burial at Meadowbrook Cemetery.

"In our sadness, we must take comfort knowing that she is smiling down upon us," Robeson County Sheriff Burnis Wilkins said.

Pictures of Hania and colorful flowers surrounded the stage during the service, including purple balloons to honor her favorite color.

"As I rode through the county this week, I saw purple everywhere in memory of Hania," Wilkins said.

The Robeson County community is heartbroken, but the spirit of the place remained unwavering.

"As difficult and painful as it is, we are still Viking strong, for we can do all things through Christ, that strengthens us," Lumberton Junior High School Principal Savin Maultsby said.

Hania's father, who lives in Guatemala, was not able to attend the funeral after a petition seeking approval for a government visa was denied.

Hania's mother took the stage last, and received hugs from those close to her.

"Through sweet Hania, our city, out county, our communities have come together in her name. What was intended for evil failed, because of what you see here today," Wilkins said.

The Lumberton City Council has named Dec. 8 as Hania Noelia Aguilar Day.

"And the hope that they would be consoled by the memories of her extraordinary life, this eight day of December, 2018," Mayor Pro Tem John Cantey said.

Hania, 13, had just started her aunt's SUV on the morning of Nov. 5, family members said, when a man wearing a bandana jumped in an drove away with both vehicle and child.

A massive search across two states brought in the FBI. The SUV was found within a few days, but Hania's body wasn't located until Nov. 27. In both instances, authorities were tight-lipped about what led to those discoveries.

Throughout the search, they have called on the community to share tips, pointing especially to surveillance video that captured a man walking south on Lambeth Street before turning north on N.C. Highway 41 toward Hania's home.

Local, state and federal law enforcement agencies vetted more than 850 leads and conducted nearly 500 interviews. That legwork and testing – of the stolen SUV, recovered on Nov. 8, and of Hania’s body – produced the evidence for to charge McLellan, the FBI said in announcing those charges.

Authorities did not say whether he confessed or whether any evidence from him led them to Hania's body off Wire Grass Road.

At the time, Lumberton Chief of Police Michael McNeill said of that search, "It was a deliberate plan to get out there."

Evidence at the scene, he said, along with surveillance footage and tips, "All of it will help us piece together what happened to Hania."

Together, the FBI and State of North Carolina had offered up to $30,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Hania's killer. Upon announcing McLellan's arrest, law enforcement did not say whether anyone would collect any of that award money.

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