Two men are being held in a North Carolina jail on a vehicle theft case that lists Orlando homicide victim Patrick Herman as the victim, according to court and arrest records uncovered by News 6.
Herman, an architect and avid runner, was found dead inside his East Jefferson Street home near Lake Eola. Last week, the medical examiner’s office said Herman died from blunt force trauma.
Beyond heavily redacted police reports, investigators have not released additional details publicly.
News 6 obtained records showing Edward Chiarappa and Douglas Titus were arrested after a traffic stop in Davidson, North Carolina.
Davidson Police say the stop happened September 8 after a license plate reader alert. The arrest report lists the charge as vehicle theft and identifies Herman as the victim of a stolen car.
Friends previously told News 6 they went to check on Herman and found him dead inside his home one day earlier.
Extradition paperwork from Mecklenburg County, North Carolina associated with the case lists an Orlando Police Department detective as the investigator.
News 6 asked OPD Tuesday whether the two men are also suspects in Herman’s death.
Police said only that the investigation remains active, and declined to release additional information “to protect the integrity of the case.”
“I just would like to know what happened and who did it, and I would like there to be some justice,” Herman’s friend Michael Hollmen told News 6 in an interview last week.
Several neighbors in Herman’s neighborhood told News 6 on Tuesday they believe there is Ring camera video showing Herman letting two people into his home around the time the crime occurred.
News 6 has not seen that video, but neighbors said police have it.
A neighbor who did not want to go on camera told News 6 investigators indicated they do not believe there is an ongoing threat to the community and do not believe the homicide was random.
News 6 is still working to confirm whether Chiarrappa and Titus are facing or could face any charges tied directly to Herman’s death in this quiet Central Florida neighborhood.