Man charged with murder month after Springdale motel assault turns deadly

A Fairfield man is charged with murder a month after 44-year-old Willie Caldwell died of injuries from an assault at a Springdale motel, according to court filings.

Marquis Owens, 33, was booked into the Hamilton County Justice Center on Sunday in connection with the killing , jail records show.

Springdale officers responded early on April 11 to the Super 8 motel on Glensprings Drive for a reported assault involving Caldwell and Owens, police said in an affidavit filed in Hamilton County Municipal Court.

After talking with both men, police determined Owens struck Caldwell in the head numerous times, the document says. While Caldwell returned to his room after the assault, his girlfriend called 911 later that morning to report that Caldwell was "barely responsive" when she tried to wake him up.

Caldwell was taken to the Mercy Health Fairfield Hospital before being flown via helicopter to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center for "significant head injuries," the document says.

Caldwell died from his injuries on June 22. The Hamilton County Coroner's Office listed his manner of death as a homicide.

Owens already has a felonious assault case pending in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court in connection with the April attack, court records show. He was allowed to remain out of jail on his own recognizance.

The Enquirer has left an email and phone call with Owens' attorney seeking comment.

Court records show Owens had an arraignment scheduled for 9 a.m. Monday. A grand jury is expected to hear the case by July 31.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Man charged with murder month after Springdale motel assault turns deadly