Man finds roommate's body in shed at North Charleston house
Update: Arrest made
Julio Armando says he felt something wasn't right when he got home from work Tuesday night.
Minutes later, he found his roommate's body in a shed at the big white house where they lived on Dobson Street. Armando and his neighbors said there was a lot of noise Monday night at the house in the Charleston Farms community.
"Police are treating this incident as a homicide and are questioning a person of interest," said Spencer Pryor, North Charleston police public information officer.
Neighbors said several Hispanic men lived in the house. "There are six or eight of them living there. I see them in and out all the time," said Charles Kinard, who owns property across the street. "They were using their neighbor's hose for water. I don't know if they even have electricity in there."
Authorities did not identify the deceased man or reveal how he died, but Armando said the man was from Mexico. Armando, speaking in Spanish, said he had an odd feeling when he got home and discovered his roommate when he opened the door to the shed.
Dozens of neighbors watched a bizarre scene as investigators climbed a ladder to retrieve a pair of pants on the roof of the house and snapped photos of three chickens roaming the property. Four 32-ounce bottles of beer and several empty food cans were on the lawn next to a trash can near the fence.
Willie Judge, 66, sat on the front porch of the house next door, shaking his head.
"It's frightening," he said. Judge said the men moved into the house at the end of 2007. He also heard a commotion coming from the house Monday night, he said.
Reach Nadine Parks at 937-5573 or nparks@postand courier.com.
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Comments
This article has 26 comment(s)
Posted by suec on May 7, 2008 at 7:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
More likely it will be Willie's grandkids robbing them or him.
Posted by BulldogTLC on May 7, 2008 at 7:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"Dozens of neighbors watched a bizarre scene as investigators climbed a ladder to retrieve a pair of pants on the roof of the house and snapped photos of three chickens roaming the property. Four 32-ounce bottles of beer and several empty food cans were on the lawn next to a trash can near the fence."
What does this have to do with the story?
Posted by granny2 on May 7, 2008 at 7:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
There were 4 beer bottles and only three chickens, so I guess someone had to be killed so each of the others could have a chicken.
Posted by moonpie on May 7, 2008 at 7:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Total disregard for the law. Are chickens allowed in NC? Maybe that's one of the things you should put on your list of things to do to clean up the city from yestedays paper?
We are fast becoming the dumping ground of the south for illegals!
Posted by RTC on May 7, 2008 at 8:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Early, I was wondering if there was a goose involved.
Thanks for solving the mystery.
Posted by SomeTruthPlease on May 7, 2008 at 8:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
There might another killing when the neighbor realizes why his water bill was so high!
Posted by lexylady on May 7, 2008 at 9:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I can only imagine why his pants were on the roof?!! These people need to be made to leave this Country. This is getting serious..Pants on the roof, chickens in the yard, beer cans/bottles everywhere, body in a shed. OH MY!!
Posted by summerville_guy on May 7, 2008 at 9:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This has got to be one of the most bizarre stories I have ever read on this website.
Posted by sbs920 on May 7, 2008 at 10:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
No mention of calling INS or if the rest of the hombres were illegal... I'm sure they were...
Hey, how 'bout lets just rename our city:
Viva Los Charlestona !
Posted by Girleygirl on May 7, 2008 at 10:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is bizarre. I am sorry that someone died & I think all of the elements in the story is taking away from this death...chickens, beer cans, food cans, pants on top of the roof, and water hoses..oh yeah and a body in a shed......
Posted by janesjabber on May 7, 2008 at 10:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
North Charleston has an excellent police, public works and code enforcement dept that would have stepped in and solved all of the problems happening at this residence had they been informed by concerned neighbors.
Posted by janesjabber on May 7, 2008 at 11:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I know wherein I speak as a resident of North Charleston for over 23 years and a frequent user of the city's service request web site.
Posted by CharlestonsFinest on May 7, 2008 at 11:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Suec that was hilarious...but true. I guess that was his last cinco de mayo...
Posted by SomeTruthPlease on May 7, 2008 at 12:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Harpo, that was excellente...I however, did try to sing it to the tune of "la cucaracha", and couldn't get that to work without tripping over my tongue. I'll post when I come up with a suitable melody.
Posted by LutherVanderhorst on May 7, 2008 at 1:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sober up, put your pants on, and take your chickens home.
Posted by forget on May 7, 2008 at 3:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
There were some in my neighborhood that decided to roast something in the center of the circle of the cul de sac that they were living in. The kids came running home and said that the people on the next street were cooking something in the street and it had legs! Some of the neighbors called the sheriffs dept. and they had them put it out. Then they did it in the front yard. Of course, they are renters and of last count there 6 people living there.
Posted by JC on May 7, 2008 at 3:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I believe its against City ordinance for more than 4 unrelated people to live under the same roof - report them people!
Posted by summerville_guy on May 7, 2008 at 4:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Luther, you always ruin my fun! Now where did I leave my pants and chickens anyway?
Posted by forget on May 7, 2008 at 4:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It looked rather goat like, it's legs looked too long to be of pig variety. But then again, could it have been deer? I don't know, just told daughter to take the dog home.
Posted by IslandGirl83 on May 7, 2008 at 4:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
LOL this cracks me up... but then it is really sad too. They are cooking something and it has legs... Gotta love kids...
Posted by IslandGirl83 on May 7, 2008 at 4:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah you better keep the dog put up for a while... don't want to have to explain that one to your kids!!
Posted by forget on May 7, 2008 at 4:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
especially since it is a "weenie dog"!
Posted by JohnS on May 7, 2008 at 6:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
A Shed? I can imagine four single mats on the floor. An extension cord from the main house was used to run lights and a window unit a/c. A hole in the floor for a fire pit and five gallon bucket for chamber pot. A barrel cut in half on the corner of the roof to catch rain water.
Posted by RTC on May 7, 2008 at 8:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have solved the mystery of the pants on the roof.
Someone told these guys about "Deliverance", so they rented it. The problem was they don't understand English.
Posted by vAniLlAcReAm on May 8, 2008 at 12:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well what can i say ... hope they get the person who did this.
Posted by walleyedwoman1215 on May 8, 2008 at 1:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
A) I am late to the party, B) I am sorry this man died so violently and C) Luther, your post is the funniest thing I have read since Lewis Grizzard died. Oh, and forget? I guarantee it was a goat. We have four, and I count them every day!