Family dispute at 2 am ends with teen strangling his uncle in yard, CMPD says

The odd case of a body found in the dark outside a Charlotte family’s home has ended with the victim’s 19-year-old nephew being charged with murder, according to Charlotte-Mecklenburg police.

Christian Caraballo is accused of killing 50-year-old Ernesto Caraballo Toledo during an early morning brawl on Oct. 18, according to an arrest warrant.

Investigators have not released details of what put the two men at odds.

The killing happened around 2 a.m. at a single-family home on Wembley Drive in east Charlotte. The neighborhood is just south of Central Avenue.

“Officers arrived and discovered the victim suffering from head trauma on the ground outside the residence,” a warrant reports.

“A broken rock-like paver was located in two pieces near the victim. The furniture in the backyard was broken and overturned. Blood drops and handprints were located throughout the rear of the house, in the kitchen and the living room.”

An autopsy determined Toledo had also been strangled, police said.

The victim’s brother and sister-in-law live at the home, and they reported Caraballo “came inside stating that something had happened and they needed to come outside,” the warrant reports.

“Christian had a different story where all three parties were inside and the victim was outside by himself for about 5 minutes. Christian went to check on him and found him deceased,” investigators said.

“Christian stated that he did not know how the blood got everywhere and did not know how the furniture got broken. Christian also had numerous cuts to his hands and a possible injury to his ear that he could not explain.”

Court records show an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer was signed Dec. 2 in the case, indicating Caraballo is not legally in the country.

This story was originally published December 4, 2025 at 6:25 AM.