A 23-year-old woman faces murder charges after Charlotte police discovered her girlfriend’s decomposing body hidden in a closet, with federal immigration authorities now holding a detainer on the suspect, who remains in custody without bond.

Discovery Following Welfare Check

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police responded to an east Charlotte apartment on Tuesday afternoon after receiving a welfare check request. A DoorDash driver had arrived at the residence and was informed someone inside was deceased, prompting the emergency call. Officers entering the apartment found 26-year-old Evelin Carolina Enamorado-Cisnado’s body concealed behind a closet door and covered with multiple towels. Investigators determined the victim’s body had already begun decomposing, indicating the death occurred days earlier.

Arrest and Confession Details

Police arrested Lhis Birito Costa on Wednesday and transported her to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Law Enforcement Center for questioning. According to court documents, Costa admitted to investigators she had been in a relationship with the victim and shot her after learning Enamorado-Cisnado was involved with another person. Following the interview, detectives transferred Costa to Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s custody and formally charged her with murder. During her initial court appearance on Thursday, a judge ordered her held without bond as the case proceeds through the legal system.

Federal Immigration Hold Confirmed

The Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement has placed a detainer on Costa. This federal hold requires local authorities to notify ICE before releasing the suspect from custody, regardless of how her criminal case resolves. The detainer indicates immigration officials intend to take custody of Costa for potential deportation proceedings. ICE has not yet issued a public statement regarding the case or Costa’s immigration status details.

What This Means

The case highlights ongoing tensions between local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities. ICE detainers have become increasingly common in jurisdictions that maintain communication with federal immigration officials. The murder charge carries significant prison time if convicted, though immigration proceedings could follow any criminal sentence. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police continue investigating the timeline of events leading to the victim’s death and the circumstances surrounding the concealment of her body in the apartment.