Hania Aguilar’s killer is housed in North Carolina’s most secure facility, official says

On November 27, 2024By Pranco

ROBESON COUNTY, NC (WBTW) – A Lumberton man who admitted last week to killing, kidnapping and raping a 13-year-old girl in 2018 had a history of attacking Hispanic victims and hid his face during the attack to avoid his to hide identity.

These are some of the new details emerging in the case against 40-year-old Michael McLellan, who was sentenced to life in prison on Friday for the murder of Hania Aguilar. A North Carolina prison official told News13 on Monday that he is being housed in the state’s most secure facility after two escape attempts from the Robeson County Detention Center on the day of his court appearance.

McLellan admitted to killing the teen after taking her from her driveway at the Rosewood Mobile Home Park on Nov. 5, 2018.

Keith Acree, a spokesman for the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, told News13 on Monday that McLellan had been transferred to Granville Correctional Institution in Butner, the state’s most secure facility.

Robeson County Sheriff Burnis Wilkins said McLellan tried to escape from custody twice Friday: first on his way to court with a key hidden in his mouth made from art supplies from the detention center and then again on his way back to the jail.

Wilkin said McLellan had his handcuffs completely loose when he reached under a sheet of Plexiglas, released a lever on a deputy’s gun holster and grabbed the gun before he was stopped.

“State maximum facilities are high-security institutions designed primarily to house violent offenders with longer sentences, a history of violence and staffing challenges,” a spokesperson said. description from the state department of public safety say.

Normally, the areas behind heavy sites with high, thick walls and reinforced fences are covered by surveillance cameras. Inmates are not allowed to do off-site work or participate in community programs.

“The housing consists of single and double cells with very limited freedom of movement. The cells are self-contained for 23 hours a day detention,” said NCDPS. “They have no opportunity to interact with other prisoners. They are considered the most dangerous of the entire incarcerated population.”

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Adam Benson joined News13’s digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran reporter from South Carolina with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam was born in Boston and graduated from the University of Utah. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here.

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Eric Cooper is a multimedia journalist at News13. He joined the team in September 2024 and covers stories in the Pee Dee. He was born in Cades, Williamsburg County and is a proud graduate of Kingstree Senior High School and Benedict College. You can read more of his work here.

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