On May 29, 2024, at approximately 11:40 p.m., Carrboro police responded to reports of gunfire at the Estes Park Apartments, located at 306 Estes Drive Extension. Upon arrival, officers discovered 41-year-old Juan Maldonado Espinoza deceased in the parking lot from an apparent gunshot wound.
The investigation led authorities to identify two suspects: 28-year-old Karla Maria Machuca and 30-year-old Dolores De Jesus Benavides Zelaya, both residents of Burlington, North Carolina.
Machuca, who had a prior intimate relationship with Espinoza, was arrested on June 12 in Los Angeles. She faced charges including first-degree murder, felony conspiracy, and felony attempted kidnapping. Notably, just 16 days before the homicide, Machuca had been arrested for an alleged assault on Espinoza, indicating a history of domestic issues between them.
Benavides Zelaya, identified as Machuca's partner and co-parent, was apprehended on July 31, also in Los Angeles. He faced identical charges: first-degree murder, felony conspiracy, and felony attempted kidnapping. Both suspects were in the process of being extradited to North Carolina to face these charges.
The arrests were the result of a collaborative effort between the Carrboro Police Department and law enforcement agencies in Los Angeles. Authorities have urged anyone with additional information regarding the case to contact Investigator R. Trombley at the Carrboro Police Department or reach out anonymously through CrimeStoppers.
