An Iowa State University student who was wanted for questioning in a pair of weekend murders is now behind bars — in North Carolina.
North Carolina police found 33-year-old Atiba Spellman in Pikeville on Monday afternoon and charged him with two counts of first-degree murder. He’s being held in North Carolina in the Wayne County Jail on a $2 million bond.
The victims, 34-year-old Shakena Varnell and 32-year-old Michael Odikro, were found slain Saturday morning. Court records show that Spellman and Varnell had been living together and that Spellman was charged on November 2nd with trespassing at Odikro’s apartment.
ISU says Spellman is a sophomore in computer engineering who was living off-campus. Police originally sought Spellman as a person of interest in the slayings, but later upgraded him to a suspect.
