Woman Found Dead After Fire Inside Sacramento Motel 6; Man Arrested

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — A man is in custody after a woman was found dead following a fire inside a Sacramento motel room Monday morning.

Sacramento police say officers responded to the 1400 block of 30th Street for a reported fire in the area. Officers soon also got several reports near that same scene about a man who was allegedly swinging a sledgehammer at passing cars.

The fire was inside an upstairs room at the Motel 6 in the area; firefighters were able to put it out quickly. Officers have also detained the man who was allegedly wielding the sledgehammer.

Sacramento police said they discovered evidence that indicates that man had killed the woman found in the motel room.

Police say the body of a woman was then found inside the motel room after the fire was put out. Exactly how she died is still under investigation.

"I knew it was something kind of serious," a man named Charles said. "You can see it blocked off all the way around."

Charles didn't want to give us his last name, but he says he lives four blocks away from the motel. He's growing more concerned about crime in the neighborhood.

"This is, it's getting out of hand, it's just totally getting out of hand," Charles said.

Sherry MacGregor lives across the street.

"I'm worried about my safety," she said.

She picked this neighborhood because it's close to work, but she says things like this leave her looking for other options.

"It makes me not want to stay here," she said.

The man, who has not yet been identified, will be booked for homicide at the Sacramento County Main Jail. Police say no further suspects remain outstanding.