Investigators have yet to identify a suspect in the murder of a gay South Philadelphia resident last month but believe the victim knew the perpetrator.
Michael J. Fox, 30, was found in a pool of blood in his bedroom by a roommate in the early morning of June 22. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Philadelphia Homicide Capt. James Clark told PGN this week that there was no sign of forced entry at the residence, a third-floor apartment at 906 S. Eighth St., leading investigators to believe the victim allowed the attacker into the apartment.
Fox’s bedroom was in disarray, with a television and other furniture overturned. Clark said investigators are considering the incident a robbery, but declined to provide details on what items were taken from the residence.
Clark said the murder took place at some point the evening of June 21.
Neither of Fox’s two roommates were home at the time, and Clark said both have been interviewed by investigators and neither is considered a suspect “at this time.”
An autopsy was completed, and the cause of death was determined to be blunt-force trauma to the head.
Investigators did not recover a murder weapon, but Clark noted that blunt force can be inflicted without a weapon.
“It could have been fists, it could have been anything,” he said.
Clark said it does not appear that Fox was targeted for being gay.
“We have no indication of that at all,” he said.
Investigators will look into the possibility of the perpetrator being someone with whom Fox was romantically involved.
“Obviously we’re going to be looking at all suspects,” Clark said. “This investigation is open so we can’t narrow it right now to certain suspects.”
The murder does not appear to be related to Fox’s previous trouble with the law.
“That is one avenue that we’re looking at but right now we don’t believe they’re connected,” Clark said.
Media outlets reported that police were called numerous times to Fox’s residence in the days leading up to the murder, but Clark declined to confirm that information.
He declined to confirm if there were surveillance cameras near the residence.
“Our detectives are working very hard to solve this murder and are looking at a lot of different possibilities,” he said.
Fox, a native of New Jersey, was a former barback at Woody’s and an aspiring hair stylist. He was an artistic roller skater who had recently gotten back into the sport.
He was last seen alive June 20.
A memorial service was held in New Jersey in late June.
A scholarship is being set up in Fox’s name. For more information, email [email protected].