Man Charged In Murder Of Mother Found In Dumpster

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina — A man has been charged in connection to the murder of a Winston-Salem mother whose body was found in a dumpster. 

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Deputies obtained a Warrant for Arrest for Mario Kinard Bennett for the murder of 30-year-old, Shantika Lashae Dunlap, according to the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office. 

In December, the mother of four was reported missing but her body was later found in a dumpster on Country Club Road in Winston-Salem. 

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Bennett is already currently in custody at the Forsyth County Detention Center under no bond. 

He has a court date of March 7, 2019. 

WFMY News 2 spoke with Shantika Dunlap's mother Latonia Mayes after the arrest was made. Mayes said she doesn't know Bennett, and doesn't believe Dunlap had any affiliation with him either.

Timeline Of Crime

December 15, 2018 

Dunlap's body was found on Country Club Road in Winston-Salem.  

A Warrant for Arrest was obtained for Mario Kinard Bennett for Felonious Larceny of Chose in Action.

December 16, 2018

Just a day later, on December 16, the North Carolina Department of Public Safety Community Corrections obtained an additional warrant for Bennett's arrest. Charging Bennett with Interference with an Electronic Monitoring Device. 

December 28, 2018

Bennett was found and arrested in Tampa, Florida by authorities in that jurisdiction. 

He was then taken back to North Carolina where he has been held in Forsyth County Detention Center ever since.

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