Suspect Killed Chesco Father For His Car And Money: DA

WEST CHESTER, PA -- A man has been charged for killing a Chester County man for his car and money and then dumping his body on the side of the road, according to authorities.

After days of investigation and a brief manhunt, Hakeem Smith, 30, of Oxford, was arrested in the killing of Sam Algarin, 31, a husband and father of two.

Smith had allegedly gotten into an argument with his mother inside their Oxford home on Sept. 13, police said. Police were called and Smith left the home on foot with his bags that night.

Just a short ways away was a Starbucks, where Algarin parked his car after he was done work at a nearby auto dealership, as he had for many years.

Algarin's wife came by at around 6 p.m. that night, Sept. 13, and they drove their two children to a martial arts class, police said. On their way home, they picked up pizza. And just after 9:40 p.m., they dropped Algarin back off at the Starbucks to pick up his car. They were supposed to meet at home shortly afterwords. But Algarin's family never saw him alive again.

By 9:46 p.m., security footage caught Smith driving Algarin's car into a nearby Turkey Hill gas station, police said.

>>31-Year-Old Father Found Murdered On Chester County Roadside: DA

Just half an hour later, at around 10:15 p.m. Algarin was found dead with a gunshot wound to the chest. His body was found in West Fallowfield Township, on Limestone Road, according to officials.

The ensuing manhunt resulted in the discovery of Algarin's phone in a field near where his body was found. Smith's fingerprints were on the phone, police said.

Then on Sunday, Algarin's car was recovered in Westtown Township. The entire vehicle had been wiped of fingerprints save for a spot on the windshield, where Smith's fingerprints were again recovered, police said. Blood was also found on the driver's seat.

Finally, on Tuesday, a West Chester police officer spotted Smith walking down the street in the borough. He was quickly taken into custody.

It's not the first case of the nature in the region in recent weeks. Last week, a Delaware County man beat his father to death and then dumped his body near a Montgomery County golf course.

He now faces charges of murder, robbery, and related counts. No bail was set and he was remanded to Chester County Prison. A preliminary hearing is forthcoming.

Image via Chester County District Attorney's Office