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Police find body believed to be murdered Charlotte man in Union County

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Authorities said a body found Friday morning in Union County is believed to be a missing Charlotte man.

The body was found around 11 a.m. along New Town Road in Waxhaw. The road was closed as investigators processed the scene.

"A little before 11 a.m., in Union County, we located remains,” Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Capt. Chris Dozier said. “We believed (the body) to be Mr. Spells off of New Town Road.”

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police held a news conference Friday afternoon saying they believe they found the body of Eric Spells and have notified his family.

Dozier didn’t say how they found the Union County location, but said it wouldn't have been possible without help from multiple agencies, including the FBI.

Dozier said giving the Spells' family peace is what fueled them.

“It's very important to provide that so they can have closure and time to grieve,” Dozier said.

On Thursday, police arrested three people in connection with Spells' murder in northwest Charlotte.

We first updated WSOCTV news app users with a notification just before noon Friday that the road was closed after police found the body.

Download the WSOCTV news app for your smartphone and get updates on this developing story as they come in.

Dwayne Evans has been charged with Spells' murder. Jason Connell Palmer and Shavonn Lanique Scott are charged with accessory after the fact.

Police said they were called to a home on South Smallwood Place Wednesday around 10 a.m. after Spells’ girlfriend said he did not show up to work after getting into an argument with Evans.

Police said Evans and Spells lived together in the house in northwest Charlotte and officers discovered evidence inside the home that indicated a crime had taken place.

Residents along South Smallwood Place told Channel 9 Wednesday that detectives went door-to-door asking about a missing man.

Investigators said information they gathered confirmed Evans had murdered Spells during a fight. Officials said Evans disposed of Evans’ body with help from Palmer and Scott.

Detectives said they were able to locate and arrest all three suspects in Concord.

"I think it's terrible, pitiful,” neighbor Annie Whitley said, “If it were my child, I'd be crazy. That’s somebody’s child.”

Officers were also out searching for his body Thursday morning at the Flying J truck stop on Highway 901 at Interstate 77 in Rock Hill.

Officials said they suspended the search Thursday night and found the body Friday.

Police are asking anyone with information about the crime to call 704-432-TIPS. The public can also call CrimeStoppers at 704-334-1600.

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