Charlotte murder charge: Undocumented immigrant accused of hiding girlfriend’s decomposing body in Peppertree Apartments closet after DoorDash driver discovery
Lhis Birito Costa, an undocumented Honduran, is charged with murder after Evelin Carolina Enamorado-Cisnado’s decomposing body was found hidden in a Peppertree Apartments closet following a DoorDash driver’s report of a foul odor, CMPD says.
Key takeaways
- Suspect: Lhis Birito Costa, 23, identified as an undocumented immigrant from Honduras; CMPD release.
- Discovery: A DoorDash driver reported a strong foul odor that prompted a welfare check; officers found the victim wrapped and hidden in a closet.
- Charges and custody: Costa is charged with murder, held without bond in Mecklenburg County jail; an ICE detainer requests notification before any release.
- Victim: Evelin Carolina Enamorado-Cisnado, 26, identified March 12, 2026.
What happened: DoorDash driver discovery and initial response
Sequence: CMPD says the case began as a routine delivery call on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. A DoorDash driver arrived at a unit in the Peppertree Apartments and noticed a strong, foul odor. Reportedly told someone inside might be dead, the driver called for a welfare check.
Officers entering the unit located a body hidden behind a closet door, wrapped in towels and blankets and already in a state of decomposition. The welfare check quickly escalated into a homicide investigation. (Sources: CMPD release; Local12; WSOC-TV.)
Crime scene and investigation steps
CMPD immediately summoned its Crime Scene Search unit and Homicide detectives. Victim Services and Operations Command assisted as detectives processed evidence, seeking to determine time and cause of death and whether others were involved.
“Detectives processed the scene and asked anyone with information to contact the tip line at 704-432-8477.”
Anyone with information is asked to call CMPD’s tip line at 704-432-8477. (Source: CMPD release.)
Arrest, statements and charges
Police located Lhis Birito Costa on March 11, 2026. She was transported to CMPD’s Law Enforcement Center and interviewed by homicide detectives. Media-obtained court documents say Costa admitted to being in a relationship with the victim and stated she shot the victim after learning the victim was involved with someone else.
Following the interview, Costa was transferred to Mecklenburg County custody and formally charged with murder. At her first court appearance on March 12, a judge ordered her held without bond. (Sources: CMPD release; Fox News; Local12.)
Immigration status and ICE detainer
Officials confirmed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) placed a detainer on Costa. An ICE detainer requests local authorities notify federal immigration officials before a person’s release. CMPD and the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office said they are holding Costa pending prosecution.
Reporting identifies Costa as from Honduras and undocumented. (Sources: Fox News; WSOC-TV; CMPD release.)
Victim, neighbors and complex history
CMPD identified the victim as Evelin Carolina Enamorado-Cisnado, 26, on March 12, 2026, and notified next of kin. Neighbors reported seeing a man, a woman and a dog at the unit but did not know the victim by name. One neighbor described heavy police activity.
The Peppertree Apartments complex had experienced another fatal shooting in its parking lot the previous month, raising local concerns about safety. (Source: WSOC-TV.)
Timeline (key dates)
- March 10, 2026: DoorDash driver reports foul odor; CMPD conducts welfare check and discovers the body; homicide probe begins. (Source: CMPD release; Local12.)
- March 11, 2026: Costa located, arrested, interviewed by homicide detectives, transferred to county custody. (Sources: CMPD release; Fox News.)
- March 12, 2026: Victim identified; Costa held without bond; CMPD issues update. (Source: CMPD release.)
Investigative questions and what’s next
Detectives continue processing physical evidence and seeking witness accounts. Officials have not publicly released a detailed forensic timeline; the medical examiner’s final cause and manner of death will be critical for prosecution. CMPD’s Homicide Unit is leading the probe and asks anyone with information to call 704-432-8477. (Source: CMPD release.)
Implications for Hesperia, California
Relevance: Though the incident occurred in Charlotte, the case raises issues relevant to communities like Hesperia: public safety, immigration policy, housing oversight and community relations.
Economic impact: High-profile violent crimes can alter perceptions of safety, affecting landlords, property managers and local businesses; budgets may be pressured to increase security or patrols.
Political consequences: The intersection of immigration enforcement and local criminal justice may prompt debate and policy responses; the ICE detainer detail is likely to be referenced in local political discussion.
Social effects: News connecting homicide to an undocumented immigrant can strain community relations and may increase demand for victim-support services and counseling.
Practical steps for residents & property managers:
- Encourage reporting of suspicious signs by neighbors and delivery workers.
- Review building security and access controls at multiunit properties.
- Publicize local victim services and domestic violence hotlines.
- Coordinate with law enforcement to understand local handling of ICE detainers.
Sources and reporting
This article draws on official and media reporting:
- CMPD newsroom: Homicide Investigation in the Eastway Division (March 10, 2026)
- Fox News: Illegal immigrant held on ICE detainer after Charlotte murder
- Local12: DoorDash driver discovery reporting
- WSOC-TV: Death investigation underway in east Charlotte
If you have information
Contact the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Homicide Unit at 704-432-8477. Any credible tip may assist investigators and help advance the case toward resolution. (Source: CMPD release.)
