PHOENIX — A man was arrested after a Phoenix man was kidnapped and found dismembered in Tucson, officials say.
According to The Associated Press, the Phoenix Police Department said John Cole, 45, was arrested for first-degree murder, kidnapping, theft by extortion, concealment of a body and additional felony charges.
Police said officers got a missing person call Monday about a man, Antoine Smith, 28. Smith was allegedly kidnapped from his apartment in Phoenix, according to the AP. It was believed to be over an unpaid cash debt.
Investigators identified and located Cole’s car heading to California, according to the AP. The Arizona Department of Public Safety troopers stopped his car and took him into custody.
According to the AP, police said they got a search warrant and allegedly found human remains inside Cole’s car.
Cole allegedly told investigators during an interview that he killed Smith in self-defense before dismembering him at his Tucson house, according to court records obtained by the AP. Cole then later allegedly told investigators where the rest of Smith’s remains were located.
No further information has been released.
©2022 Cox Media Group
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/B62QQBSTIFBZJOQD2O7LFC3UCY.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/ZGOGENAJTBFTBFET73EGTT4W3U.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/3SUUUF6GS5A6PJGOC73LQAR2RE.jpeg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/GQ4NWPTWR5HXJNKBPEBT6UROFQ.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/YTK2QEDELBGA5NANZVEXTY4L6Q.jpeg)