What began as a reported suicide to Mesa police has now become a homicide.
Police arrested James Kelley, 20, on suspicion of second-degree murder in connection to the death of Brandon Crowther, 27, whose body was discovered with a stab wound inside the living room of a home in the 8700 block of East Onza early Tuesday.
About 4:30 a.m., police responded to a report of a suicide at the home after Kelley had called 911 and said that his roommate just committed suicide. When police questioned Kelley, he changed his story a number of times and things didn’t add up, according to police. Kelley later admitted to stabbing Crowther, according to police.
Two women, one 30 and another, 19, also were inside the home at the time of the incident and had been staying there for about a week, police said.
Officers recovered a knife believed to be the murder weapon while executing a search warrant in the home.
A motive for the stabbing is not known at this time.
Kelley was booked into a Maricopa County jail.
Contact writer: (480) 898-6533 or msakal@evtrib.com
chuckles3 posted at 10:09 pm on Wed, Jul 25, 2012.
Crystal Meth? Or bath salts?