A woman was found dead in a car on I-26 near Asheville; a man was arrested and charged with first-degree murder.

A 50-year-old woman, Carly Elizabeth Johnson, was found dead in a vehicle on Interstate 26 near Asheville, North Carolina, early Tuesday morning, September 23, 2025, after police responded to a report of a disabled car. Authorities say she suffered a serious assault, and the driver, 41-year-old Kenneth Lontrell Christian, was taken into custody following negotiations and charged with first-degree murder. He is being held without bond at the Buncombe County Detention Facility. The case is under investigation, marking the fourth homicide the Asheville Police Department has handled in 2025. Officials are urging witnesses or anyone with information to contact the department.