MURRAY, Utah — A Utah man is accused of locking his girlfriend and her dog in a storage unit that later caught fire, killing them both, authorities said.
Alexander Paul Wardell, 30, of Millcreek, was arrested Saturday and charged with kidnapping and negligent homicide, according to Salt Lake County online booking records.
Morgan Kay Harris, 27, of Millcreek, was found at a CubeSmart Self Storage unit in Murray on Saturday, KSL-TV reported. The Murray City Police Department announced her identity on Monday, according to the television station.
Harris was found dead after firefighters responded to a blaze involving several storage units, KSTU-TV reported. Her dog, Huck, also died in the blaze, according to the television station.
Police said the fire started after Wardell left the area, KSTU reported. Its cause is undetermined and under investigation, according to Townlift.com.
According to police, Wardell allegedly admitted to locking Harris and her dog in the storage and walking away, KUTV reported.
In a statement, Harris’ family said it was “devastated” by her death and asked for privacy “as we maneuver through the unimaginable.”
“Our daughter, Morgan Kay Harris was always known for her sweet, shy, and kind temperament, being a deep thinker with amazing artistic abilities and always having an infectious giggle,” the statement read. “She was a beautiful model and makeup artist and a successful medical assistant. Just recently (she was) starting a new job in the Draper area she was excited about. She loved her dog, Huck, who passed with her. Leaving behind her parents, siblings, nieces, and nephews whom she adored.”
Court records indicate that Wardell was convicted of aggravated assault in two domestic violence-related cases in 2019, KSL reported. He was arrested on Friday for violating the conditions of his probation for those cases. He posted bail and was released just before midnight the same day, court records show.