A Central Pennsylvania man has been charged with robbing and killing a suburban Philadelphia man he met on the Internet.
Chad Marshall Wilcox, 28, of Williamsport, was arraigned last Friday on charges of first-degree murder, robbery and related offenses in the Sept. 21 death of Manuel Hakimian, 36, of Norristown.
Wilcox is being held without bail and has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Nov. 7.
Police say Hakimian’s body was discovered by family members in his apartment on Sept. 21 after he failed to show up for a family function.
After his arrest, Wilcox told police that he traveled to the Philadelphia area and posted an advertisement on Craigslist seeking sex with men, intending to rob respondents to feed his heroin addiction. He allegedly stole Hakimian’s cell phone, computer, wallet and car and went on to make purchases in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Tennessee.
Wilcox was spotted in the stolen car in Kentucky Sept. 24 and pursued by police, but escaped on foot during the chase. He was arrested in Johnston County, N.C., a few days later, and was returned to Lycoming County in Central Pennsylvania.
Wilcox also claims he plotted the incident with three other men, telling police he did tie the victim up using a clothesline from his basement, but that he went outside to smoke a cigarette while his alleged accomplices killed Hakimian.
Police say there is no evidence that others were involved in the crimes and they believe Wilcox acted alone.