A pregnant woman, who police say was killed by her longtime boyfriend, brings Charlotte’s homicide total for the year to 76.
Twenty-eight-year-old Mahmood Bhatti was arrested Wednesday on charges of murder and murder of an Unborn Child. Police identified the victim as 23-year-old Natalie Merrick. Her mother had reported her as missing. Police say Bhatti and Merrick were in a long term relationship and had a child in common.
Although a cause of death has not been released, Homicide Captain Chris Dozier said Merrick had injuries consistent with strangulation. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and the York County Sheriff's Office conducted a joint investigation into the crime. They believe Merrick was killed in Charlotte and that her body was brought to Fort Mill, South Carolina. Merrick's body was found on the side of Dobys Bridge Road last Thursday.
Bhatti was arrested back in August for assaulting a female. CMPD would not say who the victim was in that incident.
