Man accused of killing roommate and burying him in backyard

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, N.C. (WECT/Gray News) - A man in North Carolina was arrested after his roommate, who was reported missing, was found buried in a shallow grave in the backyard of the home they shared.

Elvin Noel Baca, 34, appeared in New Hanover County court Thursday morning on the charges of first-degree murder and conceal/fail report a death.

He was arrested on Wednesday, the sheriff’s office said.

The victim was identified as Lawrence Grabka, a 69-year-old who was reported missing by a friend, the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office said.

Deputies went to the home for a welfare check and met with Baca, Grabka’s roommate,

In a 911 call, a woman told operator that her friend had not picked up the phone when she called on Tuesday, and that his door was unlocked when she showed up. She said she found Grabka’s phone and wallet in the home but could not find him anywhere. According to the caller, it was especially unusual since she was the one who drove him places.

The sheriff’s office said detectives determined that Grabka was killed and buried in a shallow grave in the backyard.

Katherine Roush said she knew Grabka very well and called him her best friend. The two were roommates before Baca moved in.

Roush remembered Grabka, who goes by Larry, as a kind-hearted friend.

“He was the sweetest man in the world. He did not deserve this,” she said.

Roush said she always felt something wasn’t right about Baca.

“I warned him, ‘Get rid of this guy,’ and he was so nice that he didn’t want to kick him out on the street,” she said. “That’s why I told Larry for a long time, ‘He’s not right, Larry, and you don’t know what he’s capable of, so please, let’s get somebody else to rent the room.’”

Roush recalled the last time she saw Baca, when she said she believed he had already killed Grabka before burying him in the backyard.

“I saw [Baca] that night, the night he probably did it. Larry wasn’t answering his phone. So, I stopped in and Larry wasn’t home. [Baca] was sitting in his car. He said he hadn’t seen him, and he smiled at me and told me he loved me. Yeah, I can’t get that image out of my head,” Roush continued.

She said she’s now trying to replace that memory with that of her close friend, who is now gone forever.

“He was just the kind of guy, you know, if you met him, you’d want to chat with him. You’d want to chat with him and get to know him better. He was just a sweetheart,” Roush said.

In court, it was decided Baca would be held without bond. He was appointed to the capital defender’s office.

His next court date is April 18.

“The circumstances surrounding this case are deeply concerning, and our thoughts are with the victim’s loved ones during this difficult time; our priority remains seeking justice for the victim,” said Sheriff Edward McMahon.

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