Remains of missing Salisbury woman found; suspect charged

Police said the remains of Elisha Walker, 20, who was last heard from on Oct. 23, were discovered Thursday in a crude grave in the woods near a home on Homestead Lane near Smithfield in Johnston County. The property is near a subdivision where suspect, Angel Arias,23, used to live.

Arias, who investigators said is a known member of the Latin Kings street gang, was named as a suspect in Walker’s disappearance. In July, detectives used a cadaver-detection dog to search the property around Arias’ former home on Hemlock Drive in Salisbury before they learned of his new Johnston County residence.

Investigators said Walker, who lived on Celebration Drive in Salisbury, was known to visit a residence on Hemlock Drive.

Arias, who was already being held in the Johnston County Jail on unrelated drug charges, was charged with murder and felony larceny of a motor vehicle.

The larceny charges are for a stolen 2000 Pontiac Sunfire, which belonged to Walker. The burned-out car was found Nov. 23 in an open field near Clinton.

Walker was originally reported missing by her mother who worried at the time that the case could turn out this way.

"If he is still with Angel, I think there is a problem," Ruth Alexander said of Walker, who was a transgender woman.

Arias is currently being held under no bond at the Johnston County Jail and will be transported back to Rowan County.