Roanoke Rapids police are investigating the death of a woman who was discovered at the Fairfax Motel on Tenth Street Sunday afternoon.

Roanoke Rapids police Chief Bobby Martin said the woman’s fiancee has been charged with felony concealment of death. Emmitt Byers, 44, of Newport News was jailed on $10,000 bond and has a district court date Wednesday in Halifax.

Shortly after 2 p.m. Officer K. Williams responded to the motel after receiving a report of a 38-year-old Poquoson, Virginia, woman who had not been seen in a few days.

Officers went to the room where the woman, Holly Gibbs, had been staying and noticed the bathroom door was locked. The officers forced the door open and found the woman who appeared to be deceased.

Further investigation led officers to learn the man who was later identified as Byers had also been staying in the room. He wasn’t at the room when officers arrived and had not called 911 for assistance.

Shortly before 9:15 p.m. Sergeant D. Moore was patrolling in the 700 block of Jackson Street when he observed a suspicious man walking in the area.

Moore identified the man as Byers and learned he had outstanding warrants for a probation violation.

Byers was arrested and taken before a magistrate. 

Martin said the couple had probably been staying at the motel for a week or so and perhaps longer.

Martin said Byers apparently had a job in the area.

Police are still investigating the death and are waiting for an autopsy to be scheduled for Gibbs.

Martin said police found some drug paraphernalia in the room.

Officers J. Melvin, S. Langley, D. Harrison, and Investigator C. Batchelor assisted.