CHARLOTTE — The family of a man killed at his Charlotte warehouse this past week say they knew something was wrong when he didn’t check in on them.
CMPD told us this week that Gerald Barnes, 68, was found dead in his Charlotte business off of Central Avenue Thursday night.
He was one of three victims in two counties, that police say are all tied to the same murder suspect.
It’s been a very difficult few days for the family of Thomas Barnes.
They were concerned about him when they called his warehouse Thursday afternoon and he didn’t answer.
That was unusual because in addition to being a businessman, he was his wife’s caregiver.
He and Lynn Baynard Benjamin were married for 25 years and he always answered.
Eventually they contacted an employee who had a key to the business, which was when he found Barnes’ body.
He had been stabbed.
Jessica Vogt, the victim’s daughter, said she thinks about her father’s last moments.
“I would imagine that if he had any last moments to think before he passed that his last thoughts that I need to call Lynn and let her know I’m not going to be home today, and that breaks my heart because I know he thought about her,” said Vogt.
Adam Mercado, the suspect in this case will have his first appearance before a judge on Monday.
The family is debating whether or not to attend.
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