A man accused of killing his roommate during an argument over an electric bill before fleeing Phoenix has been located and arrested in Flagstaff.
Phoenix police responded to reports of a domestic violence aggravated assault at an apartment complex around 10:30 p.m. on April 30, according to Sgt. Chris Berrelleza.
The caller, Manuel Martinez, 76, had told officers that what started as a verbal argument between himself and his roommate over the electric bill led to him being assaulted with a construction helmet, Berrelleza stated.
According to court documents, Martinez gave his roommate $50 to pay the electric bill. After discovering the bill had not been paid, he asked for his money back.
Court documents state that his roommate, later identified
as 31-year-old Troy Yazzie, became angry and repeatedly struck Martinez in the head with a white construction helmet.
After searching throughout the complex, officers found that Yazzie had fled the scene before they arrived, according to Berrelleza. The helmet that was used in the assault was found near the front of the property and was collected as evidence, court documents stated.
Martienz was able to provide a statement to officers, before being transported to the hospital to seek treatment for his injuries, according to Berrelleza.
Officers conducted a follow-up with Martienz at the hospital and were informed by medical personnel that CT scans revealed multiple facial fractures as well as lacerations and bruising on his face, court documents stated.
According to court documents, Martinez experienced medical complications due to his injuries and was transferred to a specialty facility on May 26, but developed further medical complications on July 11, and was transferred to a third facility.
While at the third facility, his condition continued to worsen, and on July 11, he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead, said Berrelleza. Detectives from the Violent Crimes Bureau Homicide Unit then took over the investigation.
As the manner and cause of death were pending, the attending pathologist told detectives that preliminary findings suggested that Martinez's death was due to complications from blunt-force trauma, according to court documents.
Officers attempted to contact Yazzie multiple times but were unsuccessful.
After checking records, officers discovered that Yazzie was on probation in Coconino County, and on July 13 contacted his probation officer stating his phone was off and that he was moving to Flagstaff to live with his mother, court documents stated.
After weeks of searching for Yazzie, detectives with the Phoenix Police Department's Crime Impact Unit, working with the Flagstaff Police Department, located and arrested him in Flagstaff on July 28.
According to court documents, Yazzie waived his Miranda rights during a post-arrest interview and admitted the argument over the electric bill escalated. He told detectives he punched Martinez in the face and struck him multiple times with the construction helmet.
Phoenix Police Fugitive Apprehension Investigations Detail arrived at Flagstaff and transported Yazzie back to Phoenix, and has been booked for 1 count of 2nd degree murder, according to Berrelleza.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: A dispute over the electric bill led to the death of 76 year old man
