EATON COUNTY, Mich. — The Eaton County Sheriff's Office has charged three people with murdering a man from Charlotte.
The Eaton County Sheriff's Office held a press conference Thursday afternoon to inform the public about the investigation and solving of the 17-year-old cold case.
35-year-old, Robert Caraballo of Charlotte's burned remains were found on May 8, 2002 in Ottawa County.
The three suspects, Christopher McMillan,40, Beverly McCallum, 58, and Dineane Ducharme, 38, both from Pasadena, Texas, have been charged with homicide, conspiracy and disinterment and mutilation of a body.
Investigators believe Caraballo was killed in Charlotte and his body was moved to Ottawa County where he was found in a metal "footlocker," which had been set on fire.
The death has been ruled a homicide due to blunt force trauma.
At the time, the victim was not able to be identified and after all investigative leads were exhausted, the case went cold.
At the time, the victim was not able to be identified and after all investigative leads were exhausted, the case went cold.
In spring of 2015, tips began to surface regarding the case.
Caraballo's family members reached out to detectives after seeing a documentary online about the case called 'Jack in the Box' created by a Hope College professor.
Caraballo's family members reached out to detectives after seeing a documentary online about the case called 'Jack in the Box' created by a Hope College professor.
"That then began the identification process of the victim. It was a series of different forensic type analysis that took place based upon information that came in that lead to Roberto being identified," a detective at the press conference said.
"That then began the identification process of the victim. It was a series of different forensic type analysis that took place based upon information that came in that lead to Roberto being identified," a detective at the press conference said.
The investigation took the detectives across the nation, eventually to the scene of the murder in the basement of a residence on Horatio Street in the City of Charlotte.
The investigation took the detectives across the nation, eventually to the scene of the murder in the basement of a residence on Horatio Street in the City of Charlotte.
Analysis of the crime scene helped detectives confirm that Carabello was murdered at that location.
Analysis of the crime scene helped detectives confirm that Carabello was murdered at that location.
"Now that we have three suspects that face charges in this murder, I think it's a big relief for Ottawa County as well as Eaton County since it occurred here," said Sheriff Tom Reich of the Eaton County Sheriff's Office.
McMillan of Grand Rapids is being held in Eaton County jail and is awaiting trail.
Ducharme is in custody in Texas.
McCallum is believed to be outside the United States, possibly in Pakistan, and authorities are looking to locate and extradite her.
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