North Carolina authorities said that two suspects were arrested and charged in connection with the slaying of a 6-month pregnant woman who vanished last week.
On Monday, police had discovered a purple suitcase containing a human body tossed along the Neuse River Trail, east of Raleigh.
The Wake County officials identified the body as that of 28-year-old Brittany Smith who was reported missing three days earlier.
Smith’s boyfriend said that he last saw her late Wednesday or early Thursday leaving with two people in a car.
The couple was living in a tent in the backyard of a friend for several months, and a search of the home hinted to a local motel.
“A search warrant at a motel that’s involved gave us some of the missing pieces to the puzzle that led us to these two individuals,” Police said.
Details of the case were not made public due to the ongoing investigation. The suspects were reportedly arrested at a traffic stop.
Thomas Clayton Johnson, 37, and Emmalei Grace Trevathan, 24, were charged with murder, murder of an unborn child, and concealment of a body.
Smith was killed by strangulation, authorities said.
