Wanted posters handed out at area hotels helped Myrtle Beach police apprehend a 42-year-old man wanted in connection with a murder in Charlotte, N.C.
Joseph Lloyd Rayfield, 42, was unarmed when police took him into custody about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at 204 26th Ave. S., in Myrtle Beach, according to the report. Officers were at the Boulevard Motel Apartments handing out wanted posters when a motel manager told officers he recognized Rayfield as being the person staying in Room 305.
Police went to the room and Rayfield answered the door and was taken into custody.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police had been searching for Rayfield in connection with the death of 52-year-old Alfred Michael Smith, who was found dead inside his home July 24.
Police didn’t say how Smith died, but said they found “obvious signs of foul play.” Police also haven’t revealed a motive in the killing.
Last week, police publicly identified Rayfield as a suspect in the case and asked for the public’s help to find him. Investigators said they had reason to believe Rayfield had fled the state and was staying in the Myrtle Beach area.
Rayfield is expected to be extradited back to Charlotte to face charges in connection with Smith’s death. Police detectives were expected to interview Rayfield on Thursday.
A search of N.C. records showed Rayfield is a felon whose previous convictions include possession of drug paraphernalia, assault on a female and larceny of a motor vehicle.
A neighbor told the Charlotte Observer that Smith had lived at his Red Hickory Lane home for more than a decade. He mostly kept to himself, the neighbor said, adding that Smith had recently been in poor health.
Police continue to search for Smith’s vehicle, a champagne 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee with an N.C. tag of RXR-1112. The Jeep has a decal of a marlin on the back windshield and a decorative tag of a beach scene on the front, police said.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call homicide detectives at 704-432-TIPS or Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.
The Charlotte Observer contributed to this story.
Contact TONYA ROOT at 444-1723.
