Gates County, N.C. - The prime suspect in a murder case is now locked up and we're learning more about the five month long investigation.
The Gates County Sheriff Edward Webb says his agency was working over the last five months to make a strong case against Aaron Holland.
He's accused of shooting and killing Calvin Bell in a field near Bell's house in the Hobbsville area in North Carolina.
"It was a very, very violent crime. A very violent crime,” said Webb, "Whether it was greed, whether it was just what we referred to in law-enforcement as a drug deal that went bad. But as a result, Mr. Calvin Bell was shot and killed."
Bell was found dead in the Hobbsville area of NC-37 before the intersection of NC-32.
With .40 caliber shell casings near his body, Bell was found shot in the face and body several times in a field near his home, according to court documents.
Records show the house was in disarray – investigators found one ounce of what they thought was cocaine in the victim’s bedroom.
The search warrant states quote, “Witnesses at the scene and law enforcement interviewed describe the victim as a drug dealer who sells cocaine."
"He was the owner who lived at the residence, it appears there was some type of altercation that took place inside the house," says Sheriff Webb. "We know it was a very chaotic scene."
Officials responded to reported gun shots, and upon arrival believe that Bell's death was the result of a home invasion.
Webb said forensic testing from the lab took months to return, especially vital evidence from the suspect's truck.
The case was complicated by the fact that agencies from different states and justifications were involved.
"Understand that this is a very, very sensitive case. You want to make sure you go through it and make sure you get a lot of evidence," said Webb.
Portsmouth Police picked Aaron Holland up on drug charges on October 2. He bonded out of jail.
Then, Gates County took out a warrant for his arrested and he was picked up again on October 7.
NewsChannel 3 went to the house where Holland was arrested.
A woman, who said she is Holland’s mom, told us not all the facts in the case are being told – but declined to explain.
One neighbor, who did not want to be identified, said she has seen police outside the house several times over the last few weeks.
She said, “You never know people that is all you can say. I never thought he would do something like that. Didn’t seem the type, but you never know. ”
Sheriff Webb said he anticipates more arrests to be made in this case.
Holland has his extradition hearing in Portsmouth on October 15.
The FBI and North Carolina State Bureau are assisting with the investigation.
