http://www.azcentral.com/community/phoe ... z21ATMqxZU
A 21-year-old man faces two counts of first-degree murder after being accused of handcuffing and fatally setting fire to his pregnant girlfriend, Phoenix police said Thursday.
Dwandarrius Robinson was charged in the deaths of the 21-year-old woman and their unborn child and also faces arson and kidnapping charges, Sgt. Trent Crump said during a news conference.
Shaniqua Hall was found dead in her bedroom Wednesday after Phoenix firefighters responded to a fire at an apartment community in the 1400 block of East Bell Road, police said.
Hall, who had lived with the suspect a few months, was "obviously a victim of a homicide," Crump said. "According to family members, she was pregnant at the time and was expected to give birth here in the next week or two."
Crump said an accelerant was poured on Hall, who had been duct-taped and handcuffed. The exact cause of death is pending a medical examiner's report, he said.
Robinson has denied any involvement in the death., telling police that he found her in the apartment after running errands with their 2-year-old daughter.
Crump said the suspect was carrying handcuff keys when he was arrested, explaining to police that he was a security officer and owned two pairs of handcuffs.Investigators also said they discovered Robinson had purchased duct tape and charcoal lighter fluid a few hours before at a local supermarket.
Family members reported that the on-and-off couple was experiencing financial troubles and had a tumultuous relationship that led to domestic disturbances, Crump said.
Police have not yet pulled records to determine if officers have responded to any domestic incidents with the couple, he added.
