Welcome to Arrest Stories. A thirty-three-year-old man faces murder charges after his girlfriend died trapped in a burning storage unit that he allegedly locked from the outside, leaving her and her dog to perish in the flames. Here's what may have happened.
Alexander Paul Wardell was arrested in Murray, Utah on August twenty-eighth, twenty twenty-five, in connection with the horrific death of his girlfriend Harris, who died locked inside a CubeSmart Self Storage unit on February eighteenth, twenty twenty-three.
According to police reports, Harris was found unconscious and sitting in a folding plastic webbed lawn chair when the fire started underneath and to her left in the back corner of the storage unit. The flames ignited her buttocks area and left side while she remained unconscious. When Harris regained consciousness, she stood up and breathed in fiery hot air that burned her upper airway and larynx. Desperately trying to survive, she went to her dog and lay on the ground, attempting to breathe air from underneath the unit door.
Wardell allegedly admitted to closing the storage unit with Harris and her dog inside, then placing a padlock on the door that could only be opened from the outside before leaving the area on foot. The fire broke out after Wardell had departed, trapping both victims inside. The storage unit remained locked until firefighters were able to force open the door.
Evidence recovered included a blood-stained shirt with Harris' DNA found in a duffel bag. The Utah state medical examiner reported the immediate cause of death as smoke inhalation and thermal injuries, with the manner of death listed as undetermined.
The timeline reveals troubling details leading to the tragedy. On February eighth, twenty twenty-three, Harris sent Facebook messages to Wardell about applying to live alone and regarding abuse. Eight days later, Harris bailed Wardell out of jail for the second time. Just two days after that, the fatal fire occurred.
All suspects presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Do not take this report as factual, always verify facts. Thanks for watching Arrest Stories.
================================================================================