UPDATE: Jan. 28, 4:42 p.m.
Andrew Kramer was officially charged with first-degree murder in the beating death of Melissa Malcolm, Burlington County authorities announced Friday.
Original story follows:
PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A 38-year-old woman was found bludgeoned to death in her Mount Laurel home on Wednesday.
Officers conducted a wellness check around 12:30 p.m. for Melissa Malcolm because she did not show up for work. They found her dead in her bed from blunt force trauma to the head, the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office said.
Authorities say 31-year-old Andrew Kramer, of Mantua, was acquainted with Malcolm, and he used her debit card to withdraw cash at 2:15 and 4 a.m. He was also driving her car.
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Kramer was next spotted in Philadelphia Wednesday afternoon, in the Spring Garden neighborhood, where police say he approached a man and asked for a ride to Kensington. When the man refused, police say Kramer brandished a gun. The man convinced Kramer to stay in his garage, then he locked the door and called 911.
Officers spent about a half-hour negotiating with Kramer, who had barricaded himself inside away from police.
Kramer is facing charges in Philadelphia and Burlington County for weapons offenses, terroristic threats, simple assault, credit card theft and motor vehicle theft. Homicide charges related to Malcolm’s death have not yet been filed.