A Washington state man, Christopher Charles Reyes, 47, is facing first-degree murder charges following the brutal death of William Akers, 56. The incident came to light on November 27 when police responded to a 911 call reporting an unspecified issue at a residence on South Oakes Street in Tacoma.
Upon arrival, officers discovered Akers’ body in a garage, lying in a pool of blood with an orange air compressor resting on his right arm. A friend of the victim, who had found the body, reported to the police that Akers was “cold and stiff to the touch.” First responders confirmed Akers’ death at the scene.
Investigators noted signs of a violent struggle, including bruises and swelling around Akers’ eyes and mouth. Near the body, they found a 34-pound air compressor and a chair, both covered in blood, hair, and tissue. The chair had one leg bent almost to the point of breaking, suggesting both items had been used as weapons.
Detectives also observed that Akers had been wearing two pairs of pants, with the outer pair pulled down to reveal the inner pair. The left pocket of the inner pants had been turned inside out, as if someone had rifled through it. A small amount of cash was found near the body.
Akers, known to be a drug dealer and user, lived off his Social Security benefits. An autopsy revealed multiple skull fractures, a broken nose and ribs, and punctured lungs. Examiners also discovered suspected narcotics and $1,700 on his person.
On December 4, an anonymous tip led investigators to a woman who had been released from the same jail as Reyes and was allegedly with him at the time of the murder. The woman told police that she and Reyes had been dropped off at Akers’ residence, where they smoked narcotics in her car before returning to the house.
According to the woman, Reyes left the car to get more drugs from Akers. When he returned, she noticed what appeared to be blood on his arm. He then allegedly confessed to her, “I think I killed that guy.” The woman and her sister subsequently distanced themselves from Reyes.
Reyes was arrested on Monday and admitted to spending time with the woman and her sister, as well as visiting Akers’ residence. He later told his mother over the phone, “The only reason I got clean was because this happened. Remember when I told you something happened … this is what happened …”
Reyes has a criminal history dating back to 2001, including a 2018 assault conviction. He had been released from jail on the day of the murder following a probation violation. He is currently being held at the Pierce County Jail with bail set at $2 million and is due to appear in court on February 5.