Couple found dead in Goldsboro motel
By Nick Hiltunen
Published in News on December 15, 2009 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/GREG SOUSA
SBI investigators exit a room at the America's Best Value Inn in Goldsboro with evidence bags during a double homicide investigation Monday. Authorities say a married couple employed at the hotel were found dead in Room 108.
Two hotel workers were found dead in their hotel room at America's Best Value Inn on U.S. 70 Bypass East on Monday morning, both victims of an apparent homicide.
Suryakant Patel, 65, and his wife, Bhavanaben Patel, 61, were found dead in the room.
Goldsboro police Sgt. Chad Calloway and most of the department's investigative bureau was on scene at the hotel much of the day Monday.
The State Bureau of Investigation's "mobile crime lab," was also at the scene, along with SBI agents who helped conduct the investigation.
Calloway said police had not released a possible cause of death for the couple as of this morning, including what weapons might have been used. The investigation is continuing.
The couple's room, No. 108, had been cordoned off with yellow police tape and officers stood in a line in front of the room's door at it was opened and closed.
At one point, an officer exited with brown paper bags, presumably filled with evidence.
As of 6 p.m. Monday, officers had released the names of the couple, who according to hotel staff had not worked at the hotel for a long period of time.
"We did not know them very well," said a hotel owner who declined to be named or interviewed further for the story, deferring all other comment to the police.
Detectives were also seen canvassing the area, stopping at local businesses in an apparent search for additional information.
Goldsboro Investigator Dwayne E. Dean has been named the lead investigator in the case, and has asked for the public's help in the case.
Anyone with information about the Patels or their murder can call Dean directly at 580-4211, or the Crime Stoppers hotline at 735-2255.
Agent B.L. Lewis with the N.C. SBI can also be notified of any information in the case at 580-4307.