Sgt. Edgar Patino, center, makes a court appearance on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 in the courtroom of the Cumberland County Detention Center. Patino, 27, was arrested Tuesday evening and charged with first-degree murder in the death of Spc. Megan Touma, a dental specialist who was found dead in a Fayetteville hotel room on June 21. (AP Photo/The Fayetteville Observer, Andrew Craft)
FNC / July 30: Ft. Bragg soldier Edgar Patino is arraigned on first degree murder charges in the killing of Army Spc. Megan L. Touma. Suspect in Pregnant North Carolina Soldier's Death Was Baby's Father
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
FOX NEWS.COM
A Fort Bragg soldier was arraigned Wednesday on first-degree murder charges in the death of a colleague who North Carolina police say was pregnant with his unborn baby.
Army Sgt. Edgar Patino, 27, told Cumberland County, N.C., Judge Laura Devane that he understood the charges against him and would ask that the court appoint him an attorney.
Patino appeared wearing an orange prison jumpsuit, his hands cuffed in front of him. Devane set his next hearing for Aug. 20.
Earlier Wednesday, police in Fayetteville, N.C., said they zeroed in on Patino after gathering evidence that he wrote a letter to a local newspaper claiming he killed Army Spc. Megan L. Touma, whose decomposing body was found in a motel bathtub.
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Among that evidence is a typewriter taken from Patino's residence that investigators say was used to compose the note, Carter told reporters Wednesday. Patino allegedly purchased the typewriter the day before the letter was mailed.
Patino of Hope Mills, N.C., is being held without bond since his arrest at his home Tuesday night. He was arraigned at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Authorities said he is married, which Touma only learned shortly before her death, and admitted to fathering her unborn baby.
Patino also acknowledged being in Touma's hotel room June 13, the last day her hotel room key was used, police said.
Authorities charged Patino with first-degree murder after they took him into custody without incident about 8 p.m., but did not release a motive.
"Right now, the motive is going to be held close due to the fact that this is an ongoing investigation," Carter said.
WHAT WAS THE MOTIVE TO KILL HIS GIRLFRIEND AND BABY?
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