Prosecutor: Fuquay-Varina teen stabbed 30 times

Gabriel Alejandro Maricio Lopez, 20, of 600 Church St., and Alejanero Prada Sanchez, 19, of 307 Linwood St., Apt. 23, made their first court appearance Monday afternoon. 

Both are charged with first-degree murder in the death of Patricia Perez, 15. They were denied bond.

Perez and Lopez were dating, and authorities said they believe Lopez stabbed her to death after an argument. Sanchez witnessed the stabbing, authorities said.

Fishermen found Perez's body face-down near a fishing ramp off Farrington Road about one mile north of U.S. Highway 64.

Family members told authorities that the teen had been missing for about 48 hours and that her mother filed a missing persons report with the Wake County Sheriff's Office on Friday evening.

Members of a Chatham County Sheriff's Office dive team searched Jordan Lake Monday for the knife used to stab Perez. Maj. Gary Blankenship said investigators also took both defendants to the crime scene to gather evidence and information.

"They may tell you the direction that something may be or where it may be located," said sheriff Richard Webster. "They were cooperating with us earlier today and that's why they were down there."

Lopez and Sanchez showed no emotion as a judge appointed attorneys for them and set their next court dates for Aug. 24.

Williford Funeral Home in Fuquay-Varina is holding a visitation for Perez on Monday from 7 p.m. to midnight. The funeral will be Wednesday at 10 a.m. followed by a burial at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, the funeral home said.