Sampson man sentenced to 30 years in 2020 killing of housemate

Jul. 8—A Sampson County man has been sentenced to more than 30 years in prison in the grisly murder of another man, who was found stabbed to death and buried in the woods in the northern part of the county back in September 2020. Prosecutors said the men were friends and lived together, but an alcohol-fueled argument about visitors to the house escalated into a deadly confrontation.

Gustavo Adolfo Alverez, 28, of Faison pleaded guilty on Wednesday to second degree murder and concealing death in the murder of Elvis Orlando Jimenez Roque. The plea was entered in Sampson County Superior Court and Judge Robert C. Roupe of Onslow County sentenced Alverez to an active sentence of a minimum of 300 months (25 years) and a maximum of 372 months (31 years) for second-degree murder and a consecutive active sentence of a minimum of 80 months (6 years, 8 months) and a maximum of 108 months (9 years) for the concealment of death, all to be served in the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction.

The State was represented by Assistant District Attorney Davis Weddle.

The sentencing was announced, and the case detailed, in a statement released Friday by District Attorney Ernie Lee.

According to Lee, the state's evidence showed that on Sept. 20, 2020, Alverez stabbed and killed Roque and, the next day, buried his body in the woods behind 124 Lopez Lane, Faison. The two men lived together at the Lopez Lane residence with their significant others and, according to prosecutors, the deadly incident stemmed from an argument that two had concerning some visitors at the residence.

"The defendant and victim were friends. The defendant's sister was the victim's girlfriend," the District Attorney's statement read. "The defendant and victim were drinking alcohol that day and then an argument ensued over who was allowed to visit the residence."

The investigation was conducted by the Sampson County Sheriff's Office and was led by Detective Matthew Thornton with Deputy Alex Hernandez providing what Lee deemed "invaluable bilingual interpretation and assistance." The Sampson County Sheriff's Office also requested and received assistance from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation in the clandestine grave excavation behind 124 Lopez Lane.

According to Sampson Independent reports at the time of the incident, Sampson County Sheriff's officials said that, shortly after 5 p.m. Sept. 21, 2020, the Sampson County E-911 Center received a phone call indicating that a body had been found in a wooded area off of Lopez Lane in the Faison area of Sampson County. Upon arrival to Lopez Lane, Sampson County Sheriff's deputies were advised that the body of a male, possibly an occupant of 124 Lopez Lane, was found partially buried in the wood line behind the residence.

Responding deputies were informed that family members of the victim were chasing the suspect in a white passenger vehicle, however they had lost sight of the vehicle on Cabin Museum Road outside of Turkey, sheriff's reports state.

The passenger vehicle, believed to be operated by Alverez, was discovered later that same evening, partially submerged and heavily damaged off of Old Warsaw Road outside Turkey. The NC State Highway Patrol and the Turkey Fire Department assisted with the recovery of the abandoned vehicle.

Investigators then worked with the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation and the Wilson County Sheriff's Office to locate Alverez, who was subsequently located and taken into custody in Kenly by the Wilson County Sheriff's Office Tactical Team before being transported back to Sampson County and placed in jail without privilege of bond.

"This office values and appreciates the hard work of Sheriff Jimmy Thornton and the Sampson County Sheriff's Office as well as the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation in thoroughly investigating this case," Lee stated. "The defendant committed a senseless act against the victim after both had been drinking. As a result of this senseless act, one man is deceased, and one is in prison for a significantly long time."

Editor Chris Berendt can be reached at 910-592-8137 ext. 2587.