Suspect In 2017 Weymouth Murder Arrested In Florida

WEYMOUTH, MA — The suspect in a 2017 murder in Weymouth has been arrested in Florida, according to Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey. Cornel Bell, indicted in October 2017 on a charge of killing Michele Clarke in her apartment, was taken into custody at a construction site in Dania Beach, FL Wednesday morning.

"Massachusetts State Police, both in the Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section and the homicide detectives in the DA’s office, have been working tirelessly on finding Mr. Bell and bringing him into custody," Morrissey said in a statement. "VFAS has been working closely with the United States Marshal Service, identifying and following any trace of his whereabouts. Today that paid off."

US Marshals arrested Bell "following a brief pursuit," according to the DA's office. Bell stabbed himself in the neck with a box cutter as police closed in, Boston 25 reported. He is in the hospital in stable condition.

Clarke, the mother of a 6-year-old boy, was found dead in her Lake Street apartment in August 2017. Authorities said Bell and Clarke had previously dated.

Bell used aliases Tony Smith, Mark Simmons, Cornel James, Cornel Carara, Cavin Lebert and Kerrol Florizel Bailey, authorities said in 2017. He had warrants under two of his aliases in Massachusetts, one for assault with intent to murder in 1997 and another for armed robbery in 2002.

Bell will be arraigned in Massachusetts at a later date.