Hotel guest was stomped, stabbed
Found dead hours after argument with suspect
The man who authorities say crossed paths with a convicted killer was found dead in a hotel bathroom with many stab wounds and his throat stomped, newly released records show.
Charles Morgan, of Martha’s Vineyard, Mass., was on his way to visit family in West Palm Beach when he had made a brief stop at the Rodeway Inn & Suites in Dania Beach because of the nasty weather, his family said. His larynx was crushed so severely that it would have had to be caused by “stomping on a person’s throat,” according to an arrest report.
Arrested on the charge of murder is Alphonso Washington, a homeless man who had been staying at the hotel for two months as part of an effort by Fort Lauderdale to help the homeless escape the coronavirus. Washington was there so long he was receiving his mail there.
According to the report, cops arrived to Room 3104 of the Rodeway Inn & Suites the afternoon of Aug. 2. They found Morgan on the bathroom floor with multiple cuts, including on his neck.
He had checked into the hotel at almost 9 the night before. Starting at 5:30 that morning, Morgan asked the front desk about a check cashing store, then he returned for breakfast and headed back out in a cab to Walmart to cash a check.
Washington, who had been staying in Room 3122, was seen following Morgan around, according to the report.
The surveillance video shows that just after 10 a.m., Washington argued with Morgan, who was sitting outside his room on a chair.
The video skips three minutes, but police believe they entered the room together. Washington is seen on tape leaving the room at 10:13 a.m. and sits in the chair, then paces back and forth until almost 11 a.m.
The housekeeper passed Morgan’s room about 11 a.m. and overheard an argument between two men, recognizing one of the voices as Washington’s from previous interactions. Video shows Washington leaving the room at almost 12:30 p.m. with a bag in his hands.
When cops spoke to Washington’s hotel roommate, they were told Washington washed his clothes in the sink before heading out with an iPad that he had never seen before. When police searched the room they found a white face mask with “Martha’s Vineyard” imprinted on it. It was found by the bathroom sink.
Staff called the Sheriffs Office when Washington returned to his room and he agreed to go to headquarters to talk. He denied any involvement in Morgan’s death. The arrest report didn’t specify a motive for the killing.
Investigators searched Washington’s hotel room and recovered a blue backpack, but the arrest report didn’t what, if anything, was in the bag. They also recovered boots, two razor blades as well as some clothing.
Washington has a lengthy criminal history: A state records check shows Washington was convicted of killing a young woman in Homestead in 1985.