Update: Shooting Upgraded to Capital Murder Case
By: Liz Hogan
Updated: August 6, 2012
The stakes are getting even higher in a Fayetteville shooting investigation.
Around 10 a.m. Monday, Jessica Stewart, 39, died in the hospital.
Stewart was shot in the head and found in her neighbor's front yard Sunday morning.
"Now we're really transitioning from a shooting case to a homicide case," said Sgt. Craig Stout with the Fayetteville Police Department.
Police believe 40-year-old Eric Frankenhauser pulled the trigger.
The two had been living together at a home on Wedington Drive.
Stout says Frankenhauser may be traveling back toward Pennsylvania, his home state.
"We're trying to talk to anyone that may know him, friends, family. We know that he has not lived in this area very long, he's originally from Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia area, so we're trying to reach out to law enforcement agencies up there."
Stewart had just reopened her hair salon in a new location on College Avenue in Fayetteville.
A friend of Stewart's says she was in the salon on Wednesday, when Stewart confided in her that Frankenhauser was abusive and violent.
Five days later, Stewart was dead.
"We will have to amend the charges on the warrant, basically from attempted capital murder to capital murder, but our investigation is still going to progress forward."
Fayetteville police have never dealt with Frankenhauser before this incident, however, he does have a long list of criminal charges from Pennsylvania.
He was last seen driving a white, 2005 Hyundai Elantra, with the license plate 153RRA.
Officers say he should be considered armed and dangerous.
If you have any information on his whereabouts, contact police.
Around 10 a.m. Monday, Jessica Stewart, 39, died in the hospital.
Stewart was shot in the head and found in her neighbor's front yard Sunday morning.
"Now we're really transitioning from a shooting case to a homicide case," said Sgt. Craig Stout with the Fayetteville Police Department.
Police believe 40-year-old Eric Frankenhauser pulled the trigger.
The two had been living together at a home on Wedington Drive.
Stout says Frankenhauser may be traveling back toward Pennsylvania, his home state.
"We're trying to talk to anyone that may know him, friends, family. We know that he has not lived in this area very long, he's originally from Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia area, so we're trying to reach out to law enforcement agencies up there."
Stewart had just reopened her hair salon in a new location on College Avenue in Fayetteville.
A friend of Stewart's says she was in the salon on Wednesday, when Stewart confided in her that Frankenhauser was abusive and violent.
Five days later, Stewart was dead.
"We will have to amend the charges on the warrant, basically from attempted capital murder to capital murder, but our investigation is still going to progress forward."
Fayetteville police have never dealt with Frankenhauser before this incident, however, he does have a long list of criminal charges from Pennsylvania.
He was last seen driving a white, 2005 Hyundai Elantra, with the license plate 153RRA.
Officers say he should be considered armed and dangerous.
If you have any information on his whereabouts, contact police.
