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NEW HANOVER COUNTY, N.C. (WECT) - 34-year-old Elvin Noel Baca appeared in New Hanover County court Thursday morning, March 28, on the charges of first degree murder and conceal/fail report a death.

Per the sheriff’s office website, Baca was arrested in the 5500 block of Myrtle Grove Road near Sea Gull Lane on Wednesday.

“The victim, Lawrence Grabka, a 69-year-old male, was reported missing yesterday by a friend. Sheriff’s Office Deputies responded to 5501 Myrtle Grove Rd. for a check welfare. Deputies met with Elvin Noel Baca, a 34-year-old male and roommate of Grabka. Detectives arrived on the scene and began their investigation,” a NHCSO announcement states.

In the 911 call, a woman tells the operator that her friend had not picked up the phone when she called on Tuesday, and that his door was unlocked when she showed up. She says that she found Grabka’s phone and wallet in the home but could not find him anywhere. According to the caller, it was especially unusual since she was the one who drove him places.

The NHCSO says that, after work from detectives, it was determined that Grabka was murdered and buried in a shallow grave in the backyard.

Katherine Roush knew Grabka very well. She called him her best friend. The two were former roommates, before Baca moved in.

Roush remembers Grabka, who goes by Larry, as a kind-hearted friend.

“He was the sweetest man in the world. He did not deserve this,” she said. Roush said she always felt something wasn’t right about Baca. “I warned him. Get rid of this guy, and he was so nice that he didn’t want to kick him out on the street. ”That’s why I told Larry for a long time, ‘he’s not right Larry and you don’t know what he’s capable of, so please, let’s get somebody else to rent the room.’”

Roush recalled the last time she saw Baca, when she believes he had already killed Grabka, before burring him in the backyard.

“I saw [Baca] that night, the night he probably did it. Larry wasn’t answering his phone. So, I stopped in and Larry wasn’t home. [Baca] was sitting in his car. He said he hadn’t seen him and he smiled at me and told me he loved me. Yeah, I can’t get that image out of my head,” Roush continued.

She’s now trying to replace that memory with that of her close friend, who is now gone forever.

“He was just the kind of guy, you know, if you met him, you’d want to chat with him. You’d want to chat with him and get to know him better. He was just a sweetheart.”

In court, it was decided Baca would be held without bond. He was appointed to the capital defender’s office.

His next court date is April 18.

“The circumstances surrounding this case are deeply concerning, and our thoughts are with the victim’s loved ones during this difficult time; our priority remains seeking justice for the victim,” said Sheriff McMahon.