Police Say Ohio Man Admitted To Killing Roommate And Cutting Off His Thumb Over a Cellphone: Report

An Ohio man accused of killing his roommate and cutting of his thumb to get access to his cellphone had his bail set at $1.5 million, according to a report.

Troy, Ohio police interviewed Sean Christopher Higgins, 25, of Troy, in relation to the disappearance of Easton Ho, 25, and the suspect admitted to killing him, the Dayton Daily News reports.

Police charged Higgins with aggravated murder, abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence, theft and receiving stolen property. He pleaded guilty Friday, according to the Dayton Daily News.

Ho's body was found disposed in Randolph County, Indiana on Friday. That's where Higgins told police that's where he disposed the body. Police were working to identify the body before Higgins' admission, The Dayton Daily News reports.

The charges against Higgins allege he caused Ho's death with prior calculation, altered or destroyed evidence, stole the man's car and took his credit card. The abuse of a corpse charge relates to the cutting off of “the dead victim’s thumb and keeping it to access and use the victim’s cell phone," according to the newspaper.

Police were notified that Ho was missing around 8:30 a.m. Thursday from other roommates. The people living with him said he had left under suspicious circumstances, with his car, suitcase and mattress missing and his glasses and shoes left behind. Police said they believe Ho was killed at the apartment, the Dayton Daily News reports.

One roommate told police she noticed trash missing from the trash can and officers said they smelled bleach in the garage, where bleach bottles were discovered in the Recyling bin. There was also blood spatter on the garage door, according to the newspaper.

“Roommates of … Ho reported that he had sent strange texts to them at 2:45 a.m. and failed to show up at work that morning in Miamisburg,” McKinney said. Police believe Higgins, not Ho, sent the strange text messages, Troy police Chief Shawn McKinney said.

Police in Kettering, Ohio found Ho's car there around 6:30 p.m. Thursday and there was blood in the vehicle, the Dayton Daily News reports.

McKinney said Higgins’ interview “led to key pieces of evidence being recovered.”