Man Strangled, Stabbed His Girlfriend To Death In Kentucky Motel, Cops Say. Then He Stuffed Her Body Under The Mattress.
Aug. 29 2022, Published 9:01 a.m. ET
A woman’s remains were stuffed under a motel mattress, and now her boyfriend is being accused of murder.
Last week, police in Paducah, Kentucky, announced the arrest of Marcos A. Rios, 41, in connection to the killing of Tonia R. Cornwell, 55. He was charged with murder and abuse of a corpse.
Around 11:10 a.m. on Aug. 18, police responded to a motel after a maintenance man reported finding a body in a room. The victim, Cornwell, was found under a mattress in a second-floor room.
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Investigators said surveillance video showed Cornwell, another woman and Rios entered the room on Aug. 18. The second woman later left, and Rios left a few hours after that.
Cornwell was never seen leaving the room, police said.
Rios was interviewed and told police that he was with Cornwell and that they argued, according to police. He said he then strangled and stabbed the victim and tried to hide her body under a mattress.
Rios was arrested and had a bus ticket on him, police said. The suspect said he was planning to leave for Mexico.
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