An Alaskan man is accused of brutally killing a zoo worker and then using the victim’s credit card to grab a meal at McDonald’s, KTVA-TV reports.
Prosecutors this week charged 33-year-old Clayton Charlie with first-degree murder in connection with the death of 45-year-old Michael Greco.
Police say Charlie stole an SUV on November 4, then went to the Alaska Zoo in Anchorage to confront Greco. The nature of the dispute was not immediately clear Sunday, but a witness reported seeing Charlie standing over Greco and punching him.
Charlie also is accused of stabbing Greco and driving over him. Greco had multiple stab wounds and rib fractures, according to an autopsy. His wallet and phone were not with him when his body was found.
A 33-year-old man is facing a murder charge after police say he stabbed an Alaska Zoo employee multiple times and then drove over the victim before fleeing the scene. https://t.co/P6lpzA9nOp pic.twitter.com/Z0pU4KgUOt
— KTVA 11 News (@ktva) November 17, 2018
Police arrived to the scene within 10 minutes, but they reported not being able to find anyone in the parking lot. The following morning, authorities were called again to the zoo after Greco’s body was found frozen in a lower parking lot. Investigators found a trail of blood from Greco’s body to a parking lot entrance.
Greco’s mother said she had texted him about an hour before the confrontation.
“At that time, [Greco] indicated to his mother he was going to finish cleaning bathrooms at the zoo before heading home to her house where he was currently residing,” court records state. “He further indicated to her that he would then have to head back to work as he would be working the night shift (as the night watchman).”
Police arrested and jailed Charlie on November 5 after a vehicle chase stemming from the SUV theft. He was charged with violating a protective order, assault, and vehicle theft, but was not linked to Greco’s death at the time.
Police later learned that Greco’s credit card had been used on the evening of November 4 at a gas station and a McDonald’s. Surveillance video later showed Charlie and the SUV he stole. Detectives also examined the items police seized when they arrested Charlie and found Greco’s credit card and other evidence related to the killing.
Records show Charlie is being held on $500,000 bail. He is not speaking with police and is scheduled to be arraigned on Monday.
[Feature Photo: Pixabay]
