MURRAY, Utah — A woman is dead after her boyfriend allegedly locked her in a storage unit, which later caught fire.

Murray Fire and Murray Police Department responded to a fatal structure fire in a storage unit Saturday.

According to a probable cause statement, the suspect, 30-year-old Alexander Wardell, told police that his girlfriend was in the unit when he closed the door. He then put a lock on the door before leaving on foot. The unit later caught on fire with his girlfriend inside unable to escape.

The storage unit door remained closed until firefighters were able to get it open, according to the statement. 

Due to the lock on the door, Wardell is being charged with negligent homicide. Along with this, he is also being charged with kidnapping.

At this time, police have not shared the cause of the fire.

Wardell is currently being held at the Salt Lake County Jail without bail.

If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship there is help available here in Utah and nationwide.

• YWCA’s Women in Jeopardy program: 801-537-8600
• Utah statewide Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-897-LINK (5465) and udvc.org
• 24-hour Salt Lake victim advocate hotline: 801-580-7969
• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233

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