DAVIE COUNTY, N.C. — A woman who was attending a Bible camp in Iredell County was found dead inside a motel along Interstate 40 last week. On Friday, an arrest was made in her murder.
Investigators said 20-year-old Suzanne Kauffman’s accused killer, Quincy Cheeks Hannah, 26, is now in custody in Florida after he was spotted near Everglades National Park.
Both Kauffman and Hannah were from Pennsylvania but there is no information yet indicating the two knew each other.
Since then, deputies and the SBI were looking for Hannah, who was believed to be in Mocksville at the time of Kauffman’s murder.
[ PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Deputies: Man accused of murdering woman found in NC motel room arrested in Miami ]
Kauffman’s family told Channel 9 reporter Dave Faherty she had left the camp in Harmony to meet someone in Mocksville, possibly for coffee. Friends shared a photo of Kauffman with Channel 9 after she was found dead inside a motel room at a Days Inn along I-40 on Jan. 17.
Kauffman had come down from Pennsylvania to northern Iredell County for the Christian camp involving about 150 young people and adults in Harmony.
Family members said she was only at the camp for a day before leaving to meet someone in Mocksville.
Deputies said they first learned of the case after getting a report about some missing cellphones and that Kauffman was possibly the last person with the phones.
“They were not suppose to have phones while they were in the actual study itself is from my understanding. So everybody had stored their phone in her car and she left early. When the other folks got finished, they started looking for their phones,” Davie County Sheriff JD Hartman said.
Investigators said the phones and her car keys were found just down the road from the motel in Mocksville, lying on the ground near a KFC where her car was also discovered.
Deputies confirmed to Channel 9 that the motel room where Kauffman was found dead was paid for by Hannah.
“We’re working with Florida authorities to arrange extradition back. Determine if he’ll waive or there will have to be an extradition hearing,” Hartman said.
Faherty spoke with several people in Harmony Monday morning, who were thankful that an arrest had been made in the case.
“Hardly ever and to connect right here is a little strange. I would say people reacted what a shame,” said resident Trisha Clanton.
Deputies have not said how Kauffman died or the motive behind the murder.
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