Police arrest murder suspect driving victim’s car

Police have charged a Charlotte man with murder after they say he killed a northwest Charlotte woman and stole her car.

Investigators identified the victim as Sarah Acker. Officers were summoned to her home on State Street near Johnson C. Smith University for a check the welfare call. When they got there, they found Acker unresponsive.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police initially called the case a death investigation, and were waiting for the Medical Examiner to determine how Acker died.

But Acker’s car was missing. They entered it into the National Crime Information Center database as a stolen vehicle. Around 3:30 a.m., CMPD officers located the stolen car on South Boulevard near Remount Road.

The police helicopter followed the vehicle until the driver jumped and ran from the car. The driver, later identified as Jerry Hunter, was arrested, taken to police headquarters and interviewed by homicide detectives.

He was later charged with Acker’s murder.

Police have not said what they believed happen to Acker. They said Acker knew the man accused of killing her, and investigators believe the killing wasn’t a random act of violence.

Hunter was being held in Mecklenburg jail with no bond.

Officers are still investigating the killing. They encouraged anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600. Tipsters are eligible for rewards for information that leads to an arrest.

This story was originally published October 28, 2015 at 8:51 PM with the headline "Police arrest murder suspect driving victim’s car."