Man Charged In Hania Aguilar's Death: Robeson Sheriff

LUMBERTON, NJ — A man who was already being held in prison has been arrested and charged in connection to the kidnapping and death of Hania Noelia Aguilar, Robeson County Sheriff Burnis Wilkins said Saturday morning.

Michael Ray McLellan, 34, was arrested and charged with several counts, including murder, rape, and kidnapping in connection to Aguilar's disappearance on Nov. 5. He was already being held on unrelated charges at the time of his arrest by the Lumberton Police Department and the FBI, Wilkins said.

Police say Aguilar, 13, was kidnapped from her driveway in Lumberton on Nov. 5. McLellan is accused of forcing Aguilar into a family member's idling SUV. Her body was found in a body of water near Wire Grass Road in Robeson County on Nov. 28.

Forensic testing on the stolen car and Aguilar's body lead to McLellan's arrest, Wilkins said. In addition to rape, murder, and kidnapping, McLellan is charged with statutory rape, statuary sexual offense, sexual offense, larceny, restraint, abduction of a child, and concealment of a death.

The kidnapping set off a region-wide search that generated over 850 leads and lead to nearly 500 interviews, Wilkins said. A $30,000 reward was being offered for information at one point.

Image via Robeson County Sheriff's Office