Man Arrested In Connection With Worcester Murder
WORCESTER (CBS) – Police arrested a Worcester man and charged him in connection with the murder of a woman who was found dead inside a burning car.
Thomas Hogan, 40, was arrested and charged with intimidation of a witness.
The arrest is in connection with the murder of a woman who was found Wednesday night inside a car engulfed in flames in the woods off Swan Avenue.
Hogan, who was arraigned on Friday morning in Worcester County District Court, lives about a half mile from the crime scene.
Prosecutors said Hogan lied about his whereabouts the night the woman was killed, about his relationship with her, and about being with her that night.
The Worcester resident has a history of mental illness and petty crimes.
Prosecutors requested Hogan be held on $50,000 bail, saying that he gave misleading statements to police about his contact with the victim. Hogan is a suspect in the woman's murder, prosecutors said.
Hogan pleaded not guilty to the charge and was held on $3,000 bail.
He will next appear in court on December 2 for a pretrial conference.
Officials said the area where the car was found is notorious for dumping cars illegally.
Police have not yet identified the woman found in the car.
Hogan's defense attorneys admitted he had a casual relationship with the woman, but said there is no evidence that he killed her.