Massachusetts man traveling to meet family stabbed to death by homeless ex-convict after tiff at Florida hotel
BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA: A Massachusetts father had been stomped and stabbed to death by a homeless man at a Florida hotel on August 2.
The homeless man had been staying at an inn with his stay covered and paid for by a neighboring city amid the coronavirus crisis. According to the Vineyard Gazette, Charles Morgan from Martha's Vineyard had been staying at the Rodeway Inn & Suites in Dania Beach and was on the way to visit relatives. Morgan was killed by 59-year-old convicted killer Alphonso Washington. Morgan's wife, Jackie Flynn Morgan spoke to the media outlet and shared, "I am beyond belief. We are just overwhelmed." Washington who hails from Dania Beach was arrested on August 5.
The Broward County Sheriff's office said that Washington was arrested on charges of murder and parole violation. He is currently being held at the Broward County jail without bail. According to a press release from the Broward County Sheriff's office, they responded to a call where they found an adult male lying on the bathroom floor inside a room at the Inn.
The press release states, "When units arrived, they located a male suffering from various wounds, and the victim was pronounced deceased on scene. Crime scene and homicide detectives responded, and preliminary investigations indicated the victim sustained multiple lacerations to his body."
The police report also stated that the wounds had likely been inflicted by a "sharp-edged instrument" and that the victim had suffered from blunt force trauma. According to the Sun-Sentinel, when the cops had found Morgan lying on the bathroom floor the following day, his larynx had been crushed so badly it was possibly the result of the killer "stomping on a person’s throat". Washington is accused of killing Morgan while attempting to rob the man in his room.
Washington had been staying at the hotel for around two months as part of a program by the city of Fort Lauderdale to help homeless people stay clear of the coronavirus. As per video footage, Washington was allegedly seen arguing with Morgan who had been sitting outside his room in a chair. The authorities believe that Washington had later followed him to his room and then killed him. “There is video of them walking around together, being in the lobby, smoking together," a motel manager told the Sun Herald. The video indicated Morgan let Washington into his room. Another video from later in the day shows Washington leaving Morgan's room with a bag in his hands, according to the Associated Press.
His roommate said that Washington had washed his clothes in the sink and had then headed out with an iPad that he had never seen before. When authorities had searched the room, they had found a white mask that read 'Martha's Vineyard'. Washington had initially denied the murder and having any involvement in it. The arrest report has not stated any motive behind the killing. When investigators searched his room, they found a blue backpack. They were also able to recover boots, two razor blades and some clothing.
Washington has a previous conviction for murder in the killing of Patricia Benjamin, 27, who was found dead and stripped naked outside Homestead elementary school in 1985. He was convicted in 1987 and sentenced to up to 17 years in prison — but was released after only four years, in 1991, according to the Sun Herald.
Morgan had been married to Flynn Morgan for around 22 years and the two share a daughter, Mary, 19.
A GoFundMe page has been created for Flynn and Mary. Flynn shared, "The words, the notes, the flowers, the food. Everything -—it’s been amazing. It’s been the most unbelievable outpouring of love . . . I am so overwhelmed."