In a chilling update to one of Charlotte’s most disturbing recent homicides, the autopsy examination of 26-year-old Evelin Carolina Enamorado-Cisnado has uncovered evidence of prolonged physical abuse far predating her violent death. The young woman, originally from a Honduran family and part of the local deaf community, was discovered decomposing in a closet inside an East Charlotte apartment on March 10, 2026, after a DoorDash driver’s report of a foul odor prompted a welfare check by police.

Officers found her body wrapped in blankets and towels, hidden behind a door in the apartment on Central Avenue. Initial reports indicated an apparent gunshot wound to the head, and her 23-year-old partner, Lhis Brito-Costa (originally from Brazil), was arrested the following day and charged with first-degree murder. According to court documents and police affidavits, Brito-Costa confessed to shooting Enamorado-Cisnado after discovering she was involved with someone else, driven by intense jealousy in their deteriorating relationship.

But the autopsy has painted an even darker picture. Beyond the fatal gunshot, forensic experts identified numerous older injuries consistent with repeated assaults: extensive scarring and bruising patterns across her back, some healed fractures, and marks suggesting blunt force trauma inflicted over months or even years. These “unusual” findings on her back point to a history of severe, ongoing physical violence that went unreported or unnoticed by those around her. Both women reportedly communicated via sign language due to being deaf, which may have isolated Enamorado-Cisnado further in an abusive dynamic where external intervention was limited.

This revelation has intensified calls for justice within Charlotte’s Latino and deaf communities, where Enamorado-Cisnado was remembered as kind, ambitious, and non-confrontational. Friends and family have expressed heartbreak, describing her as someone who “didn’t mess with anyone” and whose life was cut short in a fit of rage. The case highlights the often-hidden epidemic of domestic violence in intimate partnerships, particularly in marginalized groups where language barriers, cultural stigma, or fear of authorities can prevent victims from seeking help.

Brito-Costa remains in custody without bail, facing additional scrutiny as an undocumented immigrant with an ICE detainer placed. The investigation continues, with authorities examining whether prior incidents of abuse contributed to the escalation that ended in homicide. Enamorado-Cisnado’s story serves as a tragic reminder of the need for greater awareness, support systems, and early intervention in abusive relationships—before scars become permanent and lives are lost forever.