Police say man locked girlfriend in Murray storage unit before fire that killed her
Police report man locked girlfriend in storage unit that caught fire in Salt Lake County on Feb. 18, 2023. (Photo: Murray Fire)
MURRAY, Utah (KUTV) — A woman burned to death after police said her boyfriend admitted to locking her in a storage unit that caught on fire.
Officers with the Murray Police Department initially reported that they were dispatched to CubeSmart Self Storage at 4608 South 900 East shortly before 5 p.m. Saturday on reports of a unit on fire.
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The blaze was quickly extinguished following the arrival of fire crews, and it was reported that one person and one dog were found dead at the scene.
Investigative efforts continued, and an arrest was made in relation to the incident.
Alexander Wardell, 30, is facing one felony charge of kidnapping and one class A misdemeanor charge of negligent homicide after Murray police said he admitted to intentionally locking his girlfriend in the storage unit prior to walking away.
Sometime after Wardell left the area, the storage unit reportedly caught fire and the door remained closed until firefighters were able to pry it open.
Wardell was booked into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail Saturday on the charges previously stated.
If you or someone you know are experiencing domestic or dating violence, resources are available to help. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.
The Utah Domestic Violence Coalition hotline can be reached 24/7 at 1-800-897-5465, or the National Domestic Violence Hotline is available at 1-800-799-7233.
