Martha’s Vineyard man is found dead, his throat crushed by stomping, in his Florida hotel room – homeless convicted killer who was staying there as part of city’s efforts to stop coronavirus is charged with murder
Charles Morgan was a carpenter and builder from Martha’s Vineyard was found dead with multiple stab wounds and his throat crushed in his Florida hotel room on Sunday
Earlier Morgan, 59, was heard arguing with a homeless convicted killer who was staying there as part of city’s public safety efforts
Alphonso Washington, 59, is charged with murdering the Massachusetts father-of-one by stomping on his throat at a Florida hotel
Morgan was on his way to visit family when he stopped off at Dania Beach hotel because of bad weather and crossed paths with his alleged killer
Washington had been staying at Roadway Inn & Suites along with other homeless people as part of program to stop spread of COVID-19
In the brutal slaying, the killer crushed Morgan’s larynx, cut him and struck him on the head
Morgan’s larynx was crushed so severely that it would have had to be caused by ‘using a shoe and stomping on a person’s throat,’ police said
Washington’s lengthy record includes conviction for killing a woman in Homestead in 1985
![Alphonso Washington [lft], and Charles Morgan [right] 1](https://i0.wp.com/konniemoments.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Alphonso-Washington-lft-and-Charles-Morgan-right-1.jpg?resize=620%2C376&ssl=1)
The alleged killer Alphonso Washington, [left], has been charged with murdering Massachusetts carpenter Charles Morgan, [right], by stomping on his throat
A homeless convicted killer who had been staying at a South Florida hotel as part of a public health aid program has been charged with fatally stabbing and stomping on the throat of a fellow hotel guest.
Charles Morgan, 59, a married-father-of-one from Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts, was on his way to visit family in West Palm Beach on August 1, when the inclement weather in the area forced him to break the journey and check into the Rodeway Inn & Suites in Dania Beach.
The alleged killer, Alphonso Washington, 59, had also been staying at the hotel for two months as part of an effort by Fort Lauderdale officials to get homeless people off the streets.
Washington was among dozens of homeless people staying at the Rodeway Inn as part of a humanitarian effort to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.
The brutal slaying took place at Roadway Inn & Suites in Dania Beach, Fla. [photo], where Alphonso Washington, a convicted killer who is homeless, had been staying as part of an effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus
Morgan checked into room 3104 about 9pm and early the next morning asked the front desk clerk about a check cashing store. When he returned to the hotel he had breakfast and then left in a cab for a trip to Walmart, returning shortly after.
Meanwhile Washington had been seen following the victim that morning, and just after 10am, he got into an argument with Morgan, who was sitting outside his room on a chair, the report said.
Surveillance video from the hotel skips at that point, but police believe the men entered the room together. At 10.13am, Washington is seen leaving the room, sitting in the chair outside, and then pacing around the area until almost 11am.
Around that time, a housekeeper passed by and overheard an argument between two men. She told investigators she recognized Washington’s voice from previous interactions with him.
The video shows Washington leaving room 3104 at almost 12.30pm, carrying a blue bag.
Morgan was found naked in the hotel room bathroom later that day. His larynx was crushed so severely that it would have had to be caused by ‘using a shoe and stomping on a person’s throat,’ the arrest report said.
The medical examiner who performed Morgan’s autopsy also concluded that he sustained a severe blunt force trauma to the head.
According to a complaint affidavit, police initially believed Morgan’s death may have been self-inflicted, but upon closer examination they concluded that he was the victim of a homicide.
The victim Charles Morgan, seen [left] with his daughter Mary and his wife, Jackie, at Mary’s 2019 high school graduation
The document lists the many wounds the victim had sustained, including lacerations to his neck, chin, leg and groin.
‘There was also an unknown black object lodged in the victim’s anal cavity,’ the document stated.
For three days Alphonso Washington was on not seen until Wednesday, when Broward sheriff’s deputies found him hiding in his Dania Beach hotel room and booked him on a murder charge.
Washington’s roommate told investigators the suspect washed his clothes in the sink before leaving with an iPad that he had never seen before. Police searched the room and found a white face mask with ‘Martha’s Vineyard’ imprinted on it.
During his police interview Washington said Morgan had brought marijuana to the room and hugged him, but denied killing him.
Washington was booked into the Broward County Jail on charges of murder and parole violation. He appeared in court last Thursday and was ordered held without bond.
Charles Morgan, seen [right] with his wife and daughter, was found dead in a Florida hotel bathroom on Sunday, suffering from a crushed larynx and multiple cuts on his body
The motive for the killing remains unclear.
Court records show Washington has a lengthy criminal history, including a conviction for killing a woman in Homestead in 1985.
Washington was staying at the hotel in Dania Beach after Fort Lauderdale handed out free vouchers in May to get homeless people off the street to help stop the spread of coronavirus, which has been ravaging Florida in recent months.
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