Investigators said that Maggie Daniels was asphyxiated inside her apartment on June 28 after a struggle.
‘She died of strangulation,’ said Newton Police Chief Donald Brown according to WBTV. ‘There was a struggle.’
Newton police said that upon obtaining a search warrant last week, they discovered physical evidence, including a patch of missing hair near Odom’s scalp that led to them charging the man on Saturday. The hair was later found by authorities in Odom’s closet, according to the warrant. During the search of Odom’s house on July 26 police also recovered cell phones that revealed selfies of the suspect with scratches on his face.
Investigators did say that tests have not been able to determine whether Daniels had been physically assaulted and still authorities have yet to find any evidence of a link between Odom and the Newton High School counselor. Odom’s current attorney told NBC Charlotte’s Rad Berky that he is ‘fearful’ and is ‘concerned about some things’ – although he could not explain why his client smiled again during his court appearance.
Odom was Daniels’ neighbor in the apartment complex, cops told WSOC, and he has a violent past that includes accusations of rape and assault. Daniels’ lifeless body was discovered on her bedroom floor by a neighbor who went inside after finding the door to the woman’s apartment open, according to WSOC. On Saturday, Odom grinned as police led him away in handcuffs after he was arrested.
‘Why do you have a grin on your face,’ a reporter could be heard asking Odom on the video. The accused killer did not reply. Court documents revealed Odom was previously arrested on charges of second-degree rape and assault by strangulation.
Hopefully the sickening behavior of Odom will show the judge that this guy deserves no leniency but to be locked up for a really long time.