An Oxford University worker has been charged with murder after a man’s body was discovered in an apartment with more than 40 stab wounds.
Andrew Warren, 56, a senior treasury assistant at the institution’s Somerville College, is accused alongside Professor Wyndham Lathem, 42, of murdering Trenton Cornell-Duranleau.
The 26-year-old’s body was discovered on the tenth floor of a Chicago apartment building with 47 stab wounds.
The charges of first-degree murder come after a post-mortem examination of the victim’s body — who is believed to have been in a relationship with Lathem — found he had methamphetamines in his system.
Chicago police escorted fired Northwestern University professor Wyndham Lathem (right), 42, and Oxford University financial officer Andrew Warren (left), 56. They arrived in Chicago early Saturday morning to face charges of first-degree murder in killing of a 26-year-old hair stylist
The men are accused of killing Trenton James Cornell-Duranleau (pictured), a Michigan native who had been living in Chicago, last month in Lathem’s high-rise Chicago condo
Mr Cornell-Duranleau, a Michigan native, had been living in Chicago last month in Lathem’s high-rise Chicago condo.
Chicago police said he suffered ‘mutilations’ to his upper body in addition to
Stab wounds were found on his back, chest, shoulder and abdomen, with further cuts on his arms, chin, neck, hands and wrists.
Police said the attack was so violent the blade of the knife they believe was used was broken.
A source told the Chicago Sun Times: ‘The victim was savagely killed. The crime scene was covered in blood. The body was mutilated. His genitals were cut, mutilated.’
The body was discovered at around 8.30pm on July 27 after the building’s front desk received an anonymous call that a crime had taken place on the tenth floor.
Police said Lathem (pictured on Saturday) and Cornell-Duranleau, who moved to Chicago from the Grand Rapids, Michigan, area about a year ago, had a personal relationship, though they have not described the nature of it or a motive for the attack
The victim discovered laying in his underwear — partly lying against a bedroom door.
He had been dead for more than 12 hours. By then, authorities said Lathem and Warren had fled the city.
Police said Lathem and Cornell-Duranleau, who moved to Chicago from the Michigan around a year ago, had a personal relationship.
Warren arrived in Chicago on his first trip to the US three days before the killing, after being reported missing in the UK.
Chicago police said Cornell-Duranleau suffered 47 stab wounds, including ‘mutilations,’ to his upper body. The stab wounds were located on his back, chest, shoulder and abdomen. Warren is pictured arriving in Chicago early Saturday morning
After the brutal killing, one of the men made a $1,000 donation to a local library in Cornell-Duranleau’s name. Lake Geneva authorities said the man making the donation didn’t give his name. Lathem (left) and Warren (right) may appear in court as early as Sunday
The senior treasury assistant was suspended from work by Somerville College.
He left his home on July 24 to fly to the US without telling his family or long-term boyfriend.
Lathem, a microbiologist at Northwestern University since 2007 was not teaching at the time of the attack.
He was terminated by the university for fleeing from police while an arrest warrant was out for him.
They found Cornell-Duranleau’s body on July 27 after the building’s front desk received an anonymous call that a crime had occurred on the 10th floor (pictured)
He had been refused clearance by French authorities to work at the Institute Pasteur in Paris, according to the Chicago Tribune.
The Paris institute, which studies the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, had approved Lathem’s application to work.
The institute’s spokesman, Aurelie Perthuison, said that the French government would not divulge the reason behind Lathem’s rejected security clearance.
Lathem had reportedly already begun making arrangements to relocate his Chicago-based microbiology lab to Paris.
Just one day after the killing investigators say Lathem and Warren drove around 80 miles northwest of Chicago, to Lake Geneva in Wisconsin.
One of the men reportedly made a $1,000 donation to a local library in the victim’s.
But Lake Geneva authorities said the man making the donation didn’t give his name.
Lathem also sent a video to friends and relatives apologising for his involvement in the crime, which he described as the ‘biggest mistake of my life’.
The video raised concern among investigators that Lathem might kill attempt Cornell-Duranleau and Lathem were friends on Facebook, although it’s not clear when and how the two had first crossed paths.
His mother, Charlotte Cornell, released a statement last week saying the family does not know Warren or Lathem.
‘Our Family is deeply saddened by the death of our son. It is our hope that the person or persons responsible for his death are brought to justice,’ Cornell’s statement said.
Both Lathem and Warren surrendered to authorities in California on August 4. Lathem surrendered in Oakland and Warren in San Francisco.
Lathem and Warren both appeared in court in California last week, where they agreed to return to Illinois to face charges.
An attorney for Lathem, Kenneth H. Wine, called him a ‘gentle soul’ and said ‘what he is accused of is totally contrary to the way he has lived his entire life’. Wine said Lathem intends to plead not guilty to the charges.
Warren was represented by a public defender during a brief appearance in a San Francisco court. She said he is ‘presumed innocent,’ but declined to comment further.