LITTLE ROCK — A man staying in a west Little Rock extended stay hotel has been charged with fatally stabbing another resident there in what police are calling a domestic incident.
Steven Witzke, 34, is facing a charge of first-degree murder in the death of 48-year-old George D. Johnson, whose body was found in his room at the Extended Stay America, 600 Hardin Road, around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Little Rock Police Department spokesman Terry Hastings said Witzke stabbed Johnson multiple times during an argument. According to an arrest report, the two men were in a sexual relationship.
A woman staying in the room next door initially told police that Johnson had tried to "start something" with her husband, but Witzke intervened and took Johnson into the room where he was found dead.
But Hastings said the initial information given to police was "not truthful" and that the altercation stemmed from a "domestic issue" between Johnson and Witzke.
When police first arrived at the scene, they made contact with Witzke and his girlfriend in Witzke's room. Hastings said it was unclear how much the girlfriend knew about what happened or the relationship between Witzke and Johnson.
Witzke was taken to the detective office for questioning, where he was later formally arrested.
The homicide is the fourth for Little Rock for the year so far.
Get information on the other deaths in our http://www.arkansas…">Pulaski County homicide map.