<b>DURHAM, N.C.</b> — A Durham man has been charged with the rape of a young teenage girl found dead outside her home last week.

Lazaro Martinez, 24, is accused of statutory rape. Investigators say Martinez was with 15-year-old Cristin Carter shortly before she died.

The Orange High School student was found last Friday morning outside her mother's mobile home. Sheriff's deputies say there is evidence the girl had been using cocaine.

Investigators say a toxicology report should be ready in about two weeks.

Julia Lewis

Kamal Wallace

Durham Man Charged With Rape Of Teen Found Dead Outside Home

lazaro-martinez

The Chinese balloon drifting high above the U.S. and first revealed over Montana has created a buzz down below among residents who initially wondered what it was — and now wonder what its arrival means amid a chorus of alarm raised by elected officials.

Amid spying worries, Chinese balloon on track to fly over NC Saturday

Suspected Chinese spy balloon on track for NC

Parents of students from Raleigh to Zebulon scrambled to pick up frightened children, to calm fears and to raise questions after six schools endured some level of lockdown.

More social media threats, more lockdowns and few answers for worried Wake parents

Zebulon Middle School lockdown

Did you know Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once spoke to a crowd of 5,000 at Reynolds Coliseum on NC State Campus in Raleigh?

Never-before-seen video shows Dr. King speaking at NCSU as the KKK protests 

Never-before-seen video shows MLK speaking at NCSU as the KKK protests. Image credit: Perry Aycock, AP

The Raleigh-based leader of a national bike gang will spend the rest of his life in prison for trafficking massive amounts of methamphetamine and firearms across the East Coast.

Leader of motorcycle gang will spend his life in federal prison for meth trafficking operation

Christopher Baker

North Carolina lawmakers are trying again this year to remove a Jim Crow-era voting test from the state's constitution. This year, the amendment's chances of making it onto voters' ballots may be better than in the past.

Voters could have chance to repeal NC's Jim Crow-era voting test in 2024

Voting in N.C., voting generic 

Get the latest WRAL WeatherCenter Forecast whenever you need it, including the DUALDoppler5000 and the 7-Day Forecast.

WRAL WeatherCenter Forecast

Daytime Pick 3 and Pick 4 drawings are held at 3 p.m. daily. They can be seen as live or on-demand video.

Daytime Pick 3 and Pick 4 Drawing

In Racine, Wisconsin, students lined up thousands of cereal boxes to create an awesome falling dominoes effect.

Students set world record with thousands of cereal boxes through domino effect

Cereal box domino effect

If you're cold, chances are your pets are cold. Here are some tips on making sure your pets are protected.

How to keep pets safe in the cold weather

How to keep pets safe in cold weather

Two Wake County schools -- East Millbrook Middle School and Zebulon Magnet Middle School -- are under a Code Red lockdown, so no one can enter or exit the buildings. 

Two Wake schools under Code Red; schools say students are safe

Parents react to another lockdown at Zebulon Middle School

Videos

Duke coach Kara Lawson said her team played with a men's basketball for the first half of a loss to Florida State last Sunday.

Duke women's coach Lawson says men's ball used vs. FSU

Duke_Wake_Forest_Basketball_22820

The Tournament, to be played at WakeMed Soccer Park June 1-4, will feature 32 teams playing 7-on-7 soccer in a winner-take-all format with a top prize of $1 million. 

Welcome to Cary: Wrexham AFC part of 32-team event in Cary this summer

Britain_Soccer_FA_Cup_30620

At the Town Hall Grill in Chapel Hill there are Tar Heel touches everywhere including the menu. Last season owner David Sadeghi made a NIL deal with Armando Bacot and the "Mondo Burger" was born. WRAL's Pat Welter sat down with Bacot to eat the burger and talk basketball.

A 'Mondo Burger' with Armando Bacot

Pat Welter sits down with Armando Bacot to try his signature "Mondo Burger" at the Town Hall Grill in Chapel Hill.  

Chinese balloon high over US stirs unease far below

Jon Scheyer's career record as a Duke player versus North Carolina was 3-5. And after eight years as a Blue Devils assistant coach, Saturday will be Scheyer's first Battle of the Blues as Duke's head coach.