Murder Warrants Issued in Businessman's Death
The Pender County Sheriff's Office has issued warrants charging two men with the slaying of a Wilmington man whose blood-stained truck was found at a Johnston County car dealership in January.
Posted — Updated
Martin Garza, 43, was last seen on Jan. 21 at a Wal-Mart in the Wallace area. His black GMC Denali was found a day later at Ron's Custom Cars near Interstate 40 and N.C. Highway 210 near Smithfield.
The truck had a window broken out, and its interior was covered with blood.
A passerby found Garza's body on Feb. 16 off U.S. Highway 117 near Willard. Garza, a former Marine who owned a business in Wilmington, had been shot once in the head.
Two men seen in a surveillance video from the Smithfield car dealership have been charged in Garza's death.
Socrates Taboada Gomez, 26, and Wilmer Alexis-Cruz Alvarado, 23, have each been charged with first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping and armed robbery.
Gomez is from Mexico, and Alvarado is from Honduras. Authorities said they believe the men fled to Mexico shortly after the slaying.
Copyright 2023 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
