Jose David Banillo, a 31-year-old male, was found dead on December 6, 2014, in Swannanoa, North Carolina. The Buncombe County Sheriff's deputies determined that the deaths of Jose David Banillo and his neighbor, Binia Bexara Maldonado, a 35-year-old female, were the result of a murder-suicide. The incident occurred in Maldonado's mobile home, located at 100 Alan Campos Circle, off Old U.S. 70. Deputies received a call for assistance around 6:30 p.m.
on that Saturday and arrived at the scene at 6:45 p.m., where they found the victims inside the home.
Investigators are still trying to determine who fired the fatal shots, but it was confirmed that a handgun was used in the incident. Family members of Maldonado, who traveled from New York and New Jersey to Swannanoa, gathered at her home but did not want to speak with the media further. The sheriff's office spokeswoman, Natalie Bailey, stated that the investigation was ongoing to determine the exact circumstances leading to the tragic event.
The case has been classified as a murder-suicide, and no further arrests or suspects have been reported. The community was left in shock, and the investigation continued to uncover more details about the relationship between the two neighbors and the possible motives behind the incident. The tragic deaths of Jose David Banillo and Binia Bexara Maldonado have left a lasting impact on their families and the Swannanoa community.
