Andrew Kramer charged with murder of Melissa Malcolm in Mount Laurel
MOUNT LAUREL - A man who was asked to move from a township woman's home returned to kill her, authorities allege.
Andrew Kramer, 31, is accused of slaying Melissa Malcolm, 38, who was found dead Wednesday afternoon at her residence on the 600 block of Mount Laurel Road, said the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office.
Kramer was initially identified as a person of interest in the homicide case, following his arrest over an unrelated gunpoint confrontation in Philadelphia on Wednesday evening.
The suspect had been living with Malcolm but moved out at her request at an unspecified time, the prosecutor's office said. He is currently a Mantua resident, the prosecutor's office said.
Malcolm's body was found in her bed around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday by police officers conducting a wellness check after she did not appear at work.
An autopsy determined the woman died due to head injuries, the prosecutor's office said Friday.
More: Police investigating fatal shooting of motorist on I-76
More: Driver, aide hospitalized after Winslow school-bus crash
Kramer initially was accused of using Malcolm's debit card to make two withdrawals from cash machines on Wednesday.
The withdrawals occurred around 2:15 a.m. in Evesham and at 4 a.m. in Brooklawn.
Kramer was driving the victim's vehicle, a silver 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee, at the time, the prosecutor's office said.
The suspect was arrested in Philadelphia after he allegedly pulled a gun on a man who had refused his request for a ride to the city's Kensington neighborhood.
The man convinced Kramer to enter a garage on the 1500 block of Brandywine Street, then locked the door and called 911, according to an account from Philadelphia police.
When police opened the garage door, they saw Kramer holding the gun under his chin, the account said.
Kramer refused to drop his weapon, prompting a barricade situation for about 30 to 35 minutes, police said. The stand-off ended with his arrest around 6:30 p.m.
The prosecutor's office, which initially accused Kramer of stealing Malcolm's vehicle and debit card, brought additional charges of murder and weapons offenses on Thursday night.
Kramer is charged in Philadelphia with weapons offenses, making terroristic threats and other crimes.
The charges are only allegations and Kramer has not been convicted in the cae.
The prosecutor's office will seek Kramer's extradition from Philadelphia.
Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina commended the Philadelphia man who locked Kramer in the garage, citing "his level-headed and resourceful response to this frightening encounter."
"I’d like to equally acknowledge the excellent work by the Philadelphia Police Department in their response to the scene and their successful de-escalation of the situation," he said.
Jim Walsh covers public safety, economic development and other beats for the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal.
Support local journalism with a subscription.
This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Melissa Malcolm found dead in Mount Laurel home during wellness check
