LAKE ST. LOUIS, Mo. – A foreign national was charged in the murder of a Lake St. Louis man found deceased in his home earlier this week.
The St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has charged William T. Roberts, 46, from the country of Cypress, with second-degree murder and tampering with a motor vehicle in the investigation.
According to court documents obtained by FOX 2, police found the victim dead in his Lake St. Louis home on Wednesday after responding to a well-being check, which was requested by the victim’s wife while she was out of town in Florida. She contacted authorities when her husband stopped answering his phone.
When police arrived to the home, the victim was found deceased with numerous puncture wounds, swelling, bruising and partially inside of a dog cage, per court documents. Investigators noted evidence of an attempted cover-up, including a sheet placed over the victim’s body. A knife handle was also found in a bedroom with a missing blade.
Authorities have not disclosed the victim’s identity or the location of the home as of Saturday.
Prior to the police response, the victim’s wife informed officers that she had last spoken with him on Tuesday, the same night he went to an airport to pick up Roberts from an international flight. Police learned that Roberts was planning to stay with the victim for about a week, per court documents.
As the investigation continued, police learned the victim’s truck was missing from the home. Surveillance cameras had spotted it in several locations after the victim’s death, including several counties in Missouri and Illinois. Eventually, Illinois State Police conducted a traffic stop that led to the arrest of Roberts near Joliet, Illinois.
“My thoughts are with the victim’s family during this difficult time. I’d like to commend the Lake St. Louis Police Department and the Illinois State Police for their swift action in apprehending a suspect and assure the public that there is no threat to the community.” said St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney Joseph G. McCulloch via a news release.
Roberts was booked into jail in St. Charles County on a $750,000 cash-only bond.