Murder motive: Rent. NYC man found stabbed at home; Gay lover nabbed in Vermont
”A few days turned into a few weeks. A few weeks turned into a month. A month turned into two…. This weekend is when John was going to tell him he had to leave.”
Michael Herz, co-worker of the late John Lea, who was found stabbed to death at home in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of NYC. Lea’s gay, live-in lover, Justin Waller, is the main suspect. Herz here is describing conditions that may have led to the final altercation between the two men. According to this NY Daily News article, Lea had multiple defensive wounds on his body, a gash on his head and had his throat cut. The bloody weapon apparently left next to the victims body. (New York Daily News)
”The dispute was over this guy not paying any rent…. He moved in and was not paying anything.”
Paul J. Browne, spokesman for the NY Police Dept, on the probable motive for the murder of John Lea, 41. His live-in partner, Justin Waller, 30, is the alleged killer, and is describe in media accounts as having been “down on his luck” and “creepy.” According to the NY Times, the two met at Mid City Gym; and Waller had been involved in finance industry. Police say they tracked Waller through the use of Lea’s credit cards. (NY Times)
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