The following news story is from the Lake Havasu News-Herald dated October 12th, 2007

 

Suspect charged with murder; victim identified
 

A Desert Hills man was charged Thursday with first-degree murder after he allegedly confessed to killing a Lake Havasu City man.

Police said Bryan Macbean, 31, beat and stabbed Todd Chapman, 37, during an argument earlier this week. Chapman's body was found Wednesday inside his home in the 1700 block of South Palo Verde Boulevard, but wasn't identified until Thursday.

Macbean was "covered in blood, standing in the middle of the street, screaming obscenities" when police arrested him, according to a police report obtained by Today's News-Herald.

A hammer and knife were found at the crime scene, city spokesman Charlie Cassens said. Cassens said the men had known each other for about six years.

Macbean was arrested Wednesday after he was seen acting erratically, going from house to house, banging on doors, throwing rocks and damaging property.

Officers stumbled upon Chapman's body while looking for additional damage that Macbean might have caused. Police said a door was left open to Chapman's home.

Officers put a spit hood over Macbean's head because he kept spitting on them, according to the arrest report. Macbean also was charged with aggravated assault after he allegedly kicked a police officer. He is being held without bond.

Chapman wasn't married and didn't have any children. He worked at Campbell Boats for about 21 years, owner Bob Whelan said.

Whelan said he and his employees were still reeling from the news.

"This is a really sad day for our business," Whelan said. "He was very popular and always treated everyone very well."

Chapman began working at Campbell Boats when he was still in high school. He started at the bottom rung as a detailer and worked his way up.

"He was a very competent guy. He had a photographic memory," Whelan said.

Chapman moved here when he was 10 or 11 years old. He lived in Sweden when he was younger, Whelan said.

Over the years, Whelan and Chapman developed camaraderie. He took Whelan's youngest daughter to prom; and at 6 feet 5, Chapman was often mistaken as being related to Whelan, who is 6 feet 10.

"A lot of people thought he was my son," he said.

Whelan found out that Chapman was killed before pulling into the office Wednesday. He drives by Chapman's house on his way to work. He said he knew something was wrong when he saw a crush of police cars and crime tape.

"It's hard," he said. "We were never more than 100 feet apart for more than 20 years of working days."