Crime & Safety
Portsmouth Man Indicted, Accused Of Killing Landlord With An Axe
Jacob Morrill of Portsmouth, was indicted on first-degree murder charge in connection to the death of his landlord Xue Feng Wu of Tiverton.
PORTSMOUTH, RI — A Portsmouth man was indicted earlier this month after killing his landlord with an axe in May, the Rhode Island Attorney General's Office said Tuesday.
On Aug. 4, a Newport County grand jury returned an indictment charging Jacob Morrill, 25, with first-degree murder in connection to the death of Xue Feng Wu, 50, of Tiverton. He was also charged with driving a vehicle without the consent of the owner/lessee and fraudulent use of a credit card totaling more than $100.
Portsmouth police said the investigation began just after 4:30 p.m. May 22. Tiverton police called them and asked they conduct a well-being check on Wu. Wu left his home to check on his rental property on West Main Road early in the day and had not been seen since.
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Police said Portsmouth officers went to the rental property and spoke with Morrill, a tenant. According to police, Morrill told officers Wu stopped by the home earlier in the day but left to go to court in Providence. Officers then cleared the scene.
But around 6 p.m., Portsmouth police received a tip that a crime occurred at the Wet Main Road home. Officers responded to investigate again, and 10 minutes later, Morrill called Portsmouth police and told the desk officer he struck and killed Wu, police said.
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Morrill told officers he would meet police behind the Mobil gas station at 1568 Road, where he was arrested, police said. Police said Morrill gave details about the killing to officers and told them where Wu's body was.
Officers found Wu's body down a pathway in the woods close to Morrill's home, police said. According to police, the body was wrapped in a tarp and held in place by a section of wire fencing and other objects. Police confirmed Wu was dead and said he suffered severe head injuries.
Further investigation revealed that Morrill and Wu got into an argument inside a garage at the rental property. During the confrontation, Morrill struck Wu's head with a small axe, killing him, police said. Police said Morrill then hid Wu's body.
After searching Morrill's home, police said they found the axe used to kill Wu and other evidence.
Morrill is scheduled to be arraigned on Aug. 24, at Newport County Superior Court.
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