After being challenged about forging checks, a renter is suspected of killing her former landlord with a hammer.
According to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, Xiu Fang Ke, 43, of Newton, Massachusetts, was detained and accused with killing Leonard Garber, 65, in the incident.
On Tuesday, September 27, the day after his family reported the incident, the victim’s body was found at his home below heavy objects and wrapped in a curtain.
In accordance with the DA’s office statement, detectives discovered that Garber had reportedly been hanging out with a former tenant who was eventually identified as Xiu Fang Ke.
Investigations turned up allegations that the defendant had been reportedly stealing over $40,000 by forging cheques drawn from the victim’s accounts.
When the Garbver questioned the defendant about the theft, she allegedly killed him before attempting to conceal the body.
The victim’s home is said to have been entered by Fang Ke in the days before the victim’s body was discovered, according to bank documents and security footage from Mr. Garber’s residence that the police have reviewed.
She was taken into custody without a hitch at the Newton Police Station early this morning.
According to NBCBoston, Assistant District Attorney Julie Kunkel stated in court on Wednesday that the defendant had acknowledged to killing Leonard Garber and stealing checks from him during the questioning.
“She later stated that she had used a hammer and hid his body in the location where it was eventually found by police.”
Prosecutors said there is proof that she had previously stolen checks and had debts from gaming.
“The defendant sent out a message on a group chat admitting that she had stolen the money, that she owed gambling debts and that she wanted to end her own life,” Kunkel said in court.