The Orange County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Northern Orange County resident on Monday in connection to a suspicious death case from May.

A release from the sheriff’s office said investigators arrested Charles Alan Berry, 57, of Rougemont on a concealment of death charge.

The case is regarding the death of John Logan Bell III, whose body was found in his car on May 14 near Highway 157 and Wagner Dairy Road. A suspicious vehicle call alerted authorities to the scene and upon arrival, investigators found Bell’s body in the backseat of a gold Toyota Camry.

A mugshot of Charles Berry, 57. (Photo via the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.)

According to Monday’s release, autopsy and toxicology tests on the body have been performed by have yet to be released to reveal Bell’s cause of death. The sheriff’s office, however, said Bell suffered post mortem injuries consistent with his body being moved by someone following his death.

Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood issued a statement with the release, saying it is never the right decision to conceal a death.

“A person has the duty to notify law enforcement about a death of another person and not conceal it,” said Blackwood. “In many cases, the reporting party may be exempt from prosecution. It is always better to call 911.”

A magistrate set a $100,000 secure bond for Berry on Monday. His first court appearance is slated for Tuesday at 2 p.m.

Kyle Borland is the lead investigator for the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in the case. Anyone who may have additional information about John Logan Bell III and his death is asked to call Borland at 919-245-2915.

Photo via the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

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