Three teens are facing criminal charges in connection with the murder and dismemberment of North Carolina teen whose death occurred during a marijuana deal gone “haywire,” officials said.
Michael Elijah Earley, 19, was reported missing by his girlfriend on Monday evening, nearly 24 hours after he was last seen alive. Authorities have since revealed that Earley had been killed and dismembered, adding that his remains were discovered buried in a secluded area, according to WBTV.
Three people—Carlos Rosas Jr, 19, Madison Drew Harrington, 18, and Lauren Grimes, 19—have been charged in connection with Earley’s death. Charged for his murder, Rosa and Earley apparently didn’t know one another. Detectives alleged the two women were present for Sunday’s drug deal, according to the Salisbury Post.
Reports indicated that Rosa killed Earley during a disagreement over seven grams of marijuana. Officials described the incident as a “very small drug transaction that just went crazy, haywire—completely out of hand,” WBAL reported.
Rowan County Sheriff Kevin Auten said Rosa took Earley’s body to a secluded area, where he dismembered him before burying him at another location. Auten wouldn’t reveal where Earley was killed but said detectives are working multiple crime scenes, according to the Post.
Harrington and Grimes are charged with felony accessory to murder after the fact, accused of helping to dismember Earley’s body and conceal the crime. The Post reported that they remain jailed on $500,000 bond.
Meanwhile, Rosa was charged with felony murder and concealment of a death. He remains jailed without bond.
Officials told WBTV that one or two more arrests could be made in connection with the slaying.
[Featured: Michael Earley/Rowan County Sheriff’s Office]
