Advertisement

Suspect dies on eve of murder trial

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 11 (UPI) -- A North Carolina man died the day before he was to go on trial in the killing of a University of North Carolina student, authorities said.

Neal Cassada, 55, scheduled to go on trial Monday for the 2008 killing of Irina "Ira" Yarmolenko, collapsed and died at his Mount Holly, N.C., home Sunday morning, The Charlotte Observer reported.

Advertisement

Cassada, who had a history of breathing and heart trouble, and his cousin Mark Carver were arrested after the discovery of Yarmolenko's body near a river in Mount Holly in May 2008.

She had been strangled, authorities said.

When Cassada and Carver were arrested in December 2008 they said they had been fishing near where the body was found but had not gone to the scene.

Both men were free on bond awaiting trial on charges of first-degree murder and criminal conspiracy.

Cassada, who was on disability, lived with his wife and children in Mount Holly and wore an ankle bracelet to monitor his location.

A trial date for Carver has not been set, the Observer said.

Latest Headlines