Xiu Fang Ke: Woman accused of bludgeoning friend to death with HAMMER after he found out she stole from him
NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS: A Massachusetts woman is accused of murdering her friend and former landlord with a hammer after he learned that she had stolen $40,000 from him by forging his checks, according to the authorities. Police arrested Xiu Fang Ke, 43, after they found Leonard Garber, 65, dead in his home in Newton, Massachusetts, after being severely beaten, on Wednesday, September 28.
According to Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan, the body of the victim was found buried beneath building supplies and wrapped in a curtain. Investigators said he may have remained there for more than a day. When police looked over surveillance video from Garber's house, they saw an Asian woman who was later identified as Xiu allegedly entering the house days before his body was found.
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Around 3.pm, police officers performed a well-being check at Leonard Garber's residence at 65 Mount Vernon Terrace. Middlesex District Attorney Marian T Ryan and Newton Police Chief John F Carmichael Jr revealed at a news conference that his body was discovered on Tuesday, wrapped in a curtain and buried beneath bulky building supplies, Boston 25news reported.
After many friends and family members reported Garber missing on September 26, Newton police made their first visit to his residence. Police visited his Mt Vernon Terrace residence two times and it was the third time they discovered the body. According to initial reports from the police investigation, the body was hidden from any potential home visitors and had been lying in the house for more than a day.
Masslive reported that authorities later discovered that on September 26, Garber had been visiting Ke, who was his former tenant at a different address as a result of the investigation. Ke has been accused of stealing more than $40,000 by allegedly forging checks from a joint account with her former landlord.
Garber confronted Ke about the missing money sometime between last Thursday and last Saturday, and it was at that point that Ke is believed to have killed Garber by striking him. The autopsy report for Garber is currently being awaited by authorities for more details. They currently think that Ke's friend died from blunt force trauma.
Police were able to obtain surveillance footage that allegedly depicts Ke, an Asian woman, entering Garber's house multiple times before they found the body. Ke, who was presented with the allegations against her through a Mandarin interpreter, was arrested without bond. A probable cause hearing has been scheduled for October 31.