(WBTV) Late Friday afternoon, investigators announced an arrest in the murder of Joan Lark of East Spencer.   Gary Cureton, a former boyfriend of Lark, has been charged with her killing.

According to the police report, the events began to unfold just after 6:30 am when the East Spencer Police responded to 110 Spencer Street, East Spencer, to a check on the woman who lived there.  East Spencer officers and Rowan Sheriff’s Office deputies responded, and discovered the body of 49 year old Joan Marie Know Lark lying in the floor of a downstairs bedroom inside the residence.

Lark appeared to have been the victim of a fatal assault, according to the report.  Ms. Lark’s six grandchildren were upstairs asleep during the assault and found their grandmother dead.

At around 1:30 PM, Rowan County detectives located Cureton at a residence on Concord Lake Road in Kannapolis.  Forensic evidence found on Cureton, as well as personal property of the victim was discovered when Cureton was arrested. He was charged with Murder, First Degree Burglary, and Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon.  During the booking process Cureton complained of medical issues and was transported to the hospital for treatment.