Police arrest a man for allegedly stabbing roommate to death

UPDATED: MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - A man was stabbed to death allegedly by his roommate on Monday night in Murfreesboro. The incident occurred in a home on Ransom Drive, which runs between S Rutherford Blvd and Bradyville Pike.

Authorities have now released the name of the victim in Monday night’s fatal stabbing as 31-year-old Phillip Maddox, Jr. Murfreesboro Police Department Violent Crimes Unit detectives arrested the suspect for allegedly stabbing his roommate to death while in their addiction treatment halfway house on Monday night, February 13, 2023.

MPD officers took 24-year-old Malik Smith into custody upon their arrival to the Freedom Recovery House on Ransom Drive in Murfreesboro. Smith was apprehended at 9:49 p.m. on Monday. The suspect is charged with first-degree murder in the stabbing death of one of his roommates.

Officers reported the male roommate was found in an upstairs bedroom. Phillip Maddox, Jr. was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Investigators are still trying to determine the motive behind the deadly stabbing. Therefore, this investigation continues.

In the meantime, Smith is being held at the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center on a $750,000 bond. He has a court appearance set for April 3, 2023 in Rutherford County General Sessions court.

Freedom Recovery House is evidently a home that provides boarding services to residents wanting to live in a clean and sober environment. New residents in the home are supposed to attend one AA or similar meeting daily over their first 90-days in the home.

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