Valerie Hamilton Suspect "Didn't Do It," Says Friend
NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (CBS/WIVB) Michael Harvey, the man suspected in the death of a North Carolina police chief's daughter, is due in an Upstate New York courtroom Tuesday afternoon, but the man who harbored the suspect as he tried to evade police claims Harvey "didn't do it," reports CBS affiliate WIVB.
PICTURES: Valerie Hamilton Murdered
Harvey, a convicted sex offender, is accused in the death of 23-year-old Valerie Hamilton, whose body was found Saturday in a Charlotte, N.C. self-storage unit. Police say Harvey was the last person seen with Hamilton after the two reportedly left a Charlotte bar together.
FBI and U.S. Marshals arrested the 34-year-old Harvey Monday without incident at Paul Maikranz's home in Niagara Falls, N.Y. Maikranz, Harvey's childhood friend, was also arrested because he allowed the alleged murderer to stay in his home in an attempt to hide from authorities.
Maikranz told WIVB he was helping a friend in need.
"He didn't do it, he came here and was scared," said Maikranz. "I know the whole story and everything else. He was out with the girl Wednesday night, they went to his house and you know they were doing things and his roommate walked in so they went and got a hotel room. He said he woke up the next morning next to a dead girl."
Harvey told Maikranz that he put Valerie's body in a storage unit because he panicked.
Authorities have yet to determine the cause of Hamilton's death.
Maikranz cooperated with police and is no longer in custody.
Harvey is expected to be arraigned as a fugitive from justice Tuesday afternoon at Niagara County Court.
Hamilton was the daughter of Concord, N.C. police Chief Merl Hamilton. Her funeral is being held Tuesday afternoon at a Concord church.