Undocumented woman charged with murder after girlfriend’s body found in closet at Peppertree Apartments in Charlotte
Charlotte police have charged 23-year-old Lhis Brito-Costa with first-degree murder after the body of Evelin Carolina Enamorado-Cisnado was found hidden in a closet at the Peppertree Apartments; Costa later admitted to shooting her girlfriend, and ICE has placed a detainer.
Key takeaways
- Suspect: 23-year-old Lhis Brito-Costa (name appears with minor spelling variations in early reports).
- Victim: 26-year-old Evelin Carolina Enamorado-Cisnado, initially reported in some coverage as a “Jane Doe.”
- Discovery: Body found concealed in a closet at Peppertree Apartments after a DoorDash driver requested a welfare check.
- Legal status: Costa charged with first-degree murder; an ICE detainer has been placed.
How officers say the case unfolded
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police say the incident began Tuesday afternoon when a DoorDash driver arrived at a unit in the Peppertree Apartments and was told someone inside might be dead. The driver called for a welfare check, and officers entered the apartment.
Investigators reported they found the body of Evelin Carolina Enamorado-Cisnado hidden in a closet behind a door, covered with several towels and already showing signs of decomposition, according to local reporting and court documents. Police immediately treated the scene as a homicide and began a criminal investigation.
Reporting on the discovery and investigation was provided by WSOC-TV reporting and a video report from WCNC video.
Arrest and custody
Police located and arrested 23-year-old Lhis Brito-Costa on Wednesday. After an interview with homicide detectives at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Law Enforcement Center, Costa was turned over to the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office and charged with first-degree murder.
The sheriff’s office confirmed Costa remains in custody at the county jail and that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has placed a detainer requesting notification before any potential release. Sources for these details include WSOC-TV reporting and the WCNC video.
What investigators say about motive and the interview
Court documents and reporting indicate Costa told detectives she had been in a relationship with Enamorado-Cisnado and said she shot her after learning the victim was involved with someone else. That admission is central to prosecutors’ case as they pursue the first-degree murder charge.
Police have not publicly released a full forensic timeline or a formal cause of death beyond the shooting admission reported by local outlets. The investigation remained active as of March 12, 2026, with further details expected through court proceedings and additional police reporting (WSOC-TV; WCNC video).
Scene details and neighborhood reaction
Neighbors described a heavy police presence at the Peppertree complex into the night after the welfare check. One resident, identified in reporting as Sai Akula, said officers were interviewing residents across multiple buildings and that he had observed recent visitors at the apartment, though he had not seen the victim.
Several neighbors told reporters they heard no unusual noises before police arrived. The complex had also experienced a separate fatal shooting in the parking lot the previous month, which resulted in an arrest.
Local coverage of the scene and neighbor accounts was detailed by WSOC-TV reporting.
Reporting discrepancies and names
Early local coverage contained minor inconsistencies: the suspect’s name appears with several spelling variations — Lhis Birito Costa, Lhis Brito-Costa, Leah Brito Costa — while multiple outlets identify the same 23-year-old charged in this case. The victim’s identity was confirmed as Evelin Carolina Enamorado-Cisnado in some reports while other initial accounts listed an unidentified “Jane Doe.”
A WCNC video initially described the victim as having “serious injuries” and dying shortly after police arrived, contrasting with other reports that described a concealed body showing decomposition. These differences reflect a developing story and ongoing confirmation by investigators and news organizations (WCNC video; WSOC-TV).
Legal status and ICE detainer
Authorities confirmed that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has placed a detainer on Costa. A detainer requests that local law enforcement notify ICE before a person’s release so federal immigration authorities can take custody or take other action.
The presence of the detainer does not determine criminal outcomes — those are handled by Mecklenburg County prosecutors — but it introduces an immigration enforcement element that could affect custody, transfer logistics, and courtroom scheduling. Reporting on the detainer was provided by WSOC-TV reporting.
Court proceedings and next steps in the investigation
Court documents obtained by reporters showed Costa had a court appearance scheduled Wednesday afternoon where prosecutors were expected to outline charges and next steps. Homicide detectives continue investigating the timeline of events inside the apartment and seeking anyone with relevant information.
As of the latest local reporting, officials had not released a formal cause of death beyond the suspect’s admission that she shot the victim. Additional details were expected through preliminary hearings and further police reporting (WSOC-TV; WCNC video).
Implications for Los Angeles, California
Though the homicide occurred in Charlotte, the case raises broader concerns relevant to large cities like Los Angeles:
- Economic impact: Repeated violent incidents at a complex can affect property values and renter confidence, prompting property managers to invest in security measures that may carry costs passed to tenants.
- Political consequences: The ICE detainer may attract attention in L.A., where immigration policy is a major issue. The case could be cited by officials on both sides of the enforcement debate.
- Social effects: The discovery highlights intimate-partner violence and the need for culturally competent outreach, language access, and survivor services in immigrant communities.
- Practical steps: Tenants should report suspicious activity, and building owners should review security and emergency-response plans; legal clinics and community groups can promote available domestic-violence and immigration resources.
Reporting sources and links
Primary reporting and coverage cited in this article include:
Names and details in early coverage showed minor variations; this account preserves reported facts and source links as of March 12, 2026.
