Man Already Charged With Child Rape Arrested in Norristown Murder

Chad Marshall Wilcox (Photo courtesy of the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office)

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A man already charged with the rape of a child has been arrested and charged with the September murder of a Norristown man, the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office announced Friday morning.

Chad Marshall Wilcox, 28, is charged with the Sept. 21 murder of Manuel Hakimian, 36, District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman said.

Wilcox at the time was wanted on a bench warrant from Lycoming County, where he had failed to appear for trial on Sept. 15 on charges of rape of a child and related offenses, the District Attorney’s Office said. No additional information about those charges was available Friday morning.

Norristown Police, responding to a report, found Hakimian unresponsive around 7:30 p.m. Sept. 21 in a home on the 300 block of East Logan Street, the District Attorney’s Office said.

An autopsy performed Sept. 22 by Dr. Erica Williams determined that Hakimian had died of a “cutting wound of the neck,” and his death was ruled a homicide.

Following the murder, Wilcox stole Hakimian’s car and wallet, the District Attorney’s Office said, and fled the state. Detectives were able to track Wilcox as he fled south, and other police departments were advised to be on the lookout for Wilcox and Hakimian’s car.

Police in Bowling Green, Ky., spotted the car on Sept. 24, and a chase ensued. Wilcox crashed the car in a field and fled on foot, the District Attorney’s Office said.

Wilcox subsequently surrendered to police in Benson, N.C., on the bench warrant out of Lycoming County. Detectives were able to interview Wilcox on Sept. 29, and he told them that he had been communicating with Hakimian via Craigslist.

“Wilcox admitted to detectives that his plan was to offer a sexual encounter to Hakimian and then to rob Hakimian,” the District Attorney’s Office said.

Wilcox waived extradition and was transported to Lycoming County Prison. He is scheduled to be arraigned on the murder charges via video at 12:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, before Magisterial District Judge Margaret Hunsicker.

The case will be prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Thomas W. McGoldrick.