Authorities confirmed Saturday that a North Carolina man has been charged with killing 13-year-old Hania Aguilar, and court records indicate that the suspect has a lengthy criminal record involving theft and violence.
Michael Ray McLellan, 34, was charged with 10 felony counts, in connection with the death of Hania, of Lumberton. Court documents indicate that the suspect’s criminal history spans back almost 20 years.
Attempted Robbery, Kidnapping
On October 15, 2018, McLellan allegedly attacked a woman on Pittman Street in Fairmont, North Carolina. According to Fairmont Police Chief Jon Edwards, the suspect approached the unnamed woman while wearing dark clothing and pointed a gun at her.
ABC7 reports that the suspect demanded money, according to police, and tried to take her car, but fled the scene without hurting her. McClellan turned himself in on November 15, eight days after Hania’s abduction.
Court records indicate the suspect was charged with second-degree kidnapping, attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon, and possession of a firearm by a felon.
Assault and Shooting
In 2005, McLellan was accused of shooting a woman three times on New Year’s Eve, according to The Robesonian. He snuck into the home of Teena Lewis, 21, where he held her at gunpoint, beat her, then shot her. After punching her numerous times, McClellan shot Lewis in the torso twice and the leg once, according to police.
According to police, Lewis’ 2-year-old child witnessed the incident. Lewis was rushed to the hospital and has since recovered. McClellan reportedly wore a mask during the crime. He later turned himself in.
In 2007, McLellan was convicted of first-degree burglary and assault with a deadly weapon “with intent to kill or seriously injure.” He spent nine years behind bars and was released in 2016.
Posted by Michael Mclellan on Tuesday, January 31, 2017
Assault on a Child
According to the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, McLellan was convicted of misdemeanor assault on a child in 2000. In 2004, he was convicted again of one misdemeanor count of assaulting a child.
Breaking and Entering
In February 2018, McLellan was arrested and charged with breaking and entering and larceny of a motor vehicle. He was released in June 2018. Four months later, Hania was dead.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Hania was standing in the driveway of her family home in Lumberton on November 5, at the Rosewood Mobile Home Park, when man wearing all black clothing and a yellow bandana over his face grabbed her. The suspect forced the girl into her aunt’s SUV, that she had just started up for her family before they were to drive her to school.
The abduction happened within minutes and the suspect fled the scene with Hania and the vehicle before anyone could stop him.
On November 27, authorities found Hania, deceased and submerged in a body of water in Robeson County, off of Wire Grass Road, at around 4:45 p.m
Authorities arrested McLellan after receiving results from the FBI’s laboratory at Quantico, in connection with evidence found on the SUV.
In Hania’s case, McLellan has been charged with
- Murder
- Forcible Rape
- Statutory Rape
- Statutory Sex Offense (with a victim 15 years of age and under)
- Restraint
- Larceny
- Kidnapping
- Death Concealment
- Child Abduction
McLellan is currently being held at the Robeson County Detention Center without bond. He’s scheduled for a court hearing on Monday morning. Check back with CrimeOnline as additional details become available.
[Feature Photo: Michael McLellan, Hania Aguilar/Police Handout]
