Man found dead and burned in Arizona apartment, cops say. Roommate is charged
.jpg "A 32-year-old man was charged with first-degree murder in the death of his roommate on April 2, 2022, in Phoenix.")
A man was found dead and burned in his Arizona apartment, police said.
His roommate, 32-year-old Ishmael Kojo Abor Williams, was charged with first-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence, Phoenix police said in a probable cause statement.
Police and the fire department responded to a call about a fire and a man who had passed out at 2:57 p.m. on April 2, police said.
First responders found the man lying face down in his bedroom, police said. His body had burn marks, and police said it appeared he had been set on fire.
The man’s mattress also had burn marks, and a red gas can was found in his bedroom, police said.
When they removed the man from the room, firefighters discovered a deep cut on his neck, police said.
Williams told police the two had talked about the man paying his rent and how dirty he keeps their apartment, according to the probable cause statement.
Then he said his roommate went into his room and that about 15 minutes later he went in and found him “engulfed in flames.”
Williams told officers that “he did not touch the victim” and that “he was innocent.”
Police said Williams was found with blood on his shorts, hands, feet and calves. A butcher knife with blood was also found in the victim’s room, police said. Williams told officers that no one else was in the apartment at the time of the incident.
Williams’ bail is set at $1 million. His next court hearing is April 8.
