Two others arrested in connection to Raleigh cemetery death

A 19-year-old man has been arrested in connection to the murder of a 69-year-old man in a Raleigh cemetery.

Johnathan Dan Villanueva-Galer, of Raleigh, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with the murder of James Lacy Taylor, officials said.

Villanueva-Galer has an extensive criminal history. He's been charged with driving while impaired, felony breaking and entering, felony fleeing and eluding arrest, possessing a controlled substance while in jail and for violating probation.

He was on probation at the time of his arrest.

A 16-year-old has also been taken into custody in relation to Taylor's death, officials said. Their name and records are not made public due to age.

Friday night, police arrested and charged Maria Elizabeth Pena-Echeverria, 18, for the same crime.

She appeared before a court on Tuesday.

A friend of Pena-Echeverria's spoke to WRAL News anonymously, saying she was confused about why her friend was involved in the crime.

"I think maybe it was the bad influence of the two people she was with," her friend said. "I don't think it was a matter of money."

Raleigh police were called to Schenck Memorial Forest off Reedy Creek Road on Friday. Officers found Taylor hurt there around 10 p.m.

Taylor was taken to a local hospital, where he was declared dead.

"Stuff like this shouldn't happen to nice people," said Taylor's friend David Hogue.

He said he's confused why Taylor was at the cemetery that night.

Witnesses said they saw two men and a woman leave the scene in a lifted pickup truck and a car that appeared to be brown or blue.

Although not near campus, the forest is managed by NC State University. NCSU sent a WolfAlert to students. Raleigh police and NCSU police were investigating.