Undocumented Honduran Woman Charged After Girlfriend Found Decomposing in East Charlotte Closet
A DoorDash driver’s report of a foul odor led CMPD to a Central Avenue apartment, where officers found Evelin Carolina Enamorado-Cisnado decomposing; Lhis Birito Costa was later charged with murder and is held with an ICE detainer.
- Discovery: A delivery driver’s alert prompted a welfare check that uncovered a body hidden and wrapped in a closet at Peppertree Apartments.
- Suspect: Lhis Birito Costa, 23, has been charged with murder and is being held with an ICE detainer.
- Victim: Evelin Carolina Enamorado-Cisnado, 26, was found decomposing; medical personnel pronounced her dead at the scene.
- Investigation: CMPD Homicide Unit is leading the probe and requests tips at 704-432-8477 or Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.
Discovery and the welfare check that exposed the body
What prompted police to respond: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officers were dispatched about 4:30 p.m. on March 10, 2026 after a delivery driver reported a strong, foul odor at a unit in the Peppertree Apartments on the 4300 block of Central Avenue and was told someone inside might be dead. The official CMPD release describes the sequence that led to the welfare check; see the CMPD newsroom release for details.
Scene findings: When officers entered the apartment, detectives say they found the victim’s body hidden behind a door in a closet and wrapped in towels and blankets. Investigators described the remains as already decomposing and showing signs of life-threatening trauma; medical personnel pronounced the victim deceased at the scene. Local reporting provides additional context on the discovery and condition of the body — see coverage by WSOC-TV and a regional account at Local12.
Suspect, alleged motive and arrest
According to court documents and police statements, Costa told detectives she had been in a romantic relationship with the victim and admitted she shot Enamorado-Cisnado after learning the victim was involved with another person. That alleged admission forms part of the basis for the murder charge.
Arrest timeline: CMPD located and arrested Costa the day after the welfare check, on March 11. She was interviewed at CMPD’s Law Enforcement Center by homicide detectives and then transferred to the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office on a murder charge; she was held without bond after her first court appearance on March 12, according to local reporting and official statements (WSOC-TV, Fox News).
Immigration status and federal involvement
Officials confirmed Costa is not legally in the United States. Immigration and Customs Enforcement placed a detainer seeking notification before any release from local custody. Note: an ICE detainer requests notification and potential cooperation but does not itself carry out deportation; reporting on the detainer and custody status is available via Fox News.
Investigation status, evidence and community reaction
Lead investigators: CMPD’s Homicide Unit, led by Detective Grazier-Zerbarini, is directing the probe. Detectives have asked anyone with information to call 704-432-8477 or contact Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600. The department’s public notice contains case details and ways the public can help; see the CMPD release.
Neighbors reported a heavy police presence after the discovery; several residents told reporters they had not heard anything unusual before officers arrived. The complex has experienced recent violence, including a separate fatal shooting in the parking lot not long before this case. Initial reports listed the remains as a Jane Doe before the victim’s identity was confirmed via investigative work and reporting (WSOC-TV).
Evidence and records: Court documents obtained by regional outlets indicate the DoorDash delivery and the driver’s instruction to call police were pivotal. Those records also underpin investigators’ account that Costa admitted to shooting the victim amid a relationship dispute. Further forensic results and investigative records have not yet been released publicly (Local12).
Broader implications, community safety and local reactions
Community leaders and neighbors expressed shock and concern that a body could remain hidden in an apartment unit until detected by a delivery worker. The case raises questions about building safety, neighbor communication, and the role of service workers as informal public-safety observers. Practical advice for tenants and landlords includes ensuring functioning detectors, clearer neighbor communication, and reporting suspicious odors or signs immediately.
The homicide also intersects with sensitive issues — immigration enforcement, domestic violence, and the dynamics of same-sex relationships — generating political and social conversations in other communities. Regional reporting and commentary have noted how the ICE detainer may be highlighted in debates over immigration policy and local-federal cooperation (Fox News, WSOC-TV).
What to watch next
Outstanding questions include whether federal immigration authorities will pursue removal proceedings after criminal processes conclude and the timing and outcome of forensic tests (autopsy, gunshot residue, etc.) that will shape the prosecution’s case. CMPD has asked the public to come forward with tips as detectives work to complete the timeline and evidence collection.
Reporting note and sources
This report draws on the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s public newsroom release (CMPD newsroom) and regional media accounts: WSOC-TV, Local12, and coverage noting ICE involvement (Fox News).
If you have information: Contact CMPD Homicide Detective Grazier-Zerbarini at 704-432-8477 or Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.
