By Vassia Barba
A man working at a Pizza Hut store is accused of murdering his boss after the latter cashed a $7,000 (£5,500) check.
Kavonn Ingram, 31, has been arrested and charged in connection with the brutal killing of his Pizza Hut colleague, 55-year-old Alex Stengel, a resident of Cudahy in South Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Ingram faces first-degree intentional homicide charges following the discovery of Stengel's body on February 7, two days after his murder. According to law enforcement officials, Stengel's body was found discarded in a garbage can behind the dumpsters at the Pizza Hut store.
The victim had sustained gunshot wounds as well as stab wounds on his neck, while his personal belongings including his wallet, keys, and cellphone were missing.
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A blood trail was discovered leading from the dumpster area to the restaurant's kitchen, according to a criminal complaint seen by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Investigators believe that Stengel was murdered in the kitchen, wrapped in a garbage bag, placed in a garbage can, and then transported outside to the dumpster area.
Investigation inside the restaurant revealed that while most of the establishment appeared unclean, a section of the kitchen seemed to have been recently tidied, with cleaned metal doors.
Additionally, a garbage bag found near the rear door matched the type used to cover the victim in the garbage can.
Surveillance footage from a nearby Taco Bell captured a figure, identified as a suspect wearing black clothing, struggling to move a garbage can from the Pizza Hut towards the dumpsters on February 5.
This timing coincided with Stengel's presence at work, as confirmed by computer records showing his activities inside the restaurant.
According to investigators, Stengel was clocked out of the system after the murder, believed to have been orchestrated by Ingram, who was familiar with the restaurant's computer and time management system.
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Text messages purportedly sent from Stengel's phone to a regional manager, indicating he was unwell and had left for the day, were later determined to have been faked by the suspect to cover his tracks.
Further suspicions arose when it was disclosed that Stengel had recently cashed a $7,000 (£5,500) inheritance check, displaying the money to colleagues, including Ingram. Authorities believe this display of wealth may have motivated the subsequent crime.
In a press release, the South Milwaukee Police Department said: "The victim and suspect were co-workers at the Pizza Hut Restaurant in South Milwaukee and we believe money was the motive for this crime. [...] We are not seeking any other suspects."
Ingram faces a slew of charges, including first-degree intentional homicide, hiding a corpse, armed robbery, and possession of a firearm by a felon. If convicted of the homicide charge, he faces a mandatory life sentence in prison.