A Pizza Hut employee in South Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has been charged with the brutal murder of his manager. The accused, 31-year-old Kavonn Ingram, allegedly killed 55-year-old Alex Stengel for a sum of $7,000, the proceeds from an inheritance check Stengel had recently cashed.
The heinous crime took place on the morning of February 5, 2024, in the kitchen of the Pizza Hut outlet where both men were employed. As per police records, Ingram, a Milwaukee native, shot Stengel and slashed his throat before disposing of the body in a garbage bag.
Two days later, a garbage collector discovered Stengel’s body in a dumpster behind the restaurant. This gruesome discovery prompted an investigation that led back to the Pizza Hut outlet.
Investigative authorities found out that Stengel had shared news of his $7,000 windfall with his colleagues a few days before his murder and had even shown them his wads of cash. This information is speculated to have triggered the vicious chain of events.
A trail of blood led South Milwaukee police from the dumpster to the eatery’s kitchen, the reported site of Stengel’s murder. The investigators believe that after the murder, Ingram packed Stengel’s body in a garbage bag, put it in a trash can, and carried it to the dumpster.
The investigation further revealed that Stengel’s wallet, keys, and cellphone were missing, indicating robbery as a potential motive. Surveillance footage recorded Ingram transporting the garbage can containing Stengel’s body to the dumpsters at about 10:30 a.m. on the day of the crime.
Ingram tried to cover his tracks by clocking out for Stengel after his death and using Stengel’s phone to text a regional manager. However, his attempts were unsuccessful in misdirecting law enforcement. Ingram was arrested and charged with first-degree homicide, concealing a corpse as part of a crime, armed robbery, and illegal firearm possession by a felon. He is currently held on a $200,000 cash bond.
The criminal charges also include details of a conversation between Ingram and his girlfriend, in which Ingram allegedly mulled over killing Stengel to steal his money. A search of Ingram’s residence led to the recovery of a loaded firearm and blood-stained Pizza Hut paychecks, further implicating him in the crime.
Ingram has been prohibited from contacting anyone employed at the Pizza Hut outlet where the crime occurred. Ingram pleaded not guilty on February 23.
