Staff report
The Iredell County man who is accused of murdering a dairy worker in western Rowan last month returned to Rowan County Thursday, less than two weeks after he was arrested in Virginia.
Balmore Portillo Merino, 38, of 211 W. Lowe Road in Statesville, faces a murder charge.
Investigators say Merino shot and killed Parra Policarpio, 43, of 2045 Mount Tabor Church Road, on Sept. 23.
The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office received information that Merino had fled to Virginia after the shooting. Authorities located Merino in Virginia on Sept. 28. He was charged with murder and held without bond while he awaited extradition to Rowan County.
Authorities had responded to a report of a shooting at the dairy farm Sept. 23 on Mount Tabor Church Road, where Policarpio worked.
Mirna Del Carmen Guevara, 38, of 2065 Mount Tabor Church Road, has been charged with accessory after the fact to murder in the case.
Guevara initially provided sheriff’s investigators with false information about the identity of the suspect, Sheriff George Wilhelm said at the time.