Murder Suspect Arrested in North Carolina

On Dec. 21, 2011, Pinellas County deputies were conducting a welfare check at Landy Martinez-Esquivel's home. 

When deputies arrived, there was no answer at the front door. As deputies walked through the home, they discovered Martinez-Esquivel dead in the bedroom of the home.

On Friday, Feb. 17, the Sheriff's Office announced that a suspect in Martinez-Esquivel's death was arrested in Hickory, NC. 

The suspect, the Sheriff's Office said, is 24-year-old Jose Magana Adame. Deputies believe Adame was living in North Carolina with relatives. 

According to the Sheriff's Office, investigators followed up on tips and developed other investigative information that led detectives to locate Adame in Hickory.

A warrant was issued for his arrest on First Degree Murder and he was taken into custody. He is awaiting extradition at the Catawba County Jail, the news release said.

Adame is expected to be returned to Pinellas County within the next month, following the completion of the extradition process.

The Sheriff's Office also announced Friday that with the arrest of Adame, the Homicide Unit's case clearance rate in 2011 is 100 percent. The unit worked 14 homicide investigations in 2011.