WINSTON-SALEM, N.C-- The man suspected in the death of two men and burying their remains in his backyard in Clemmons has died. Pazuzu Algarad was found unresponsive in his prison cell around 3:00 Wednesday morning. Correctional officers and prison medical staff rushed Algarad to the prison's medical center but they were unable to revive him. He was pronounced dead at 4:20 a.m.
According to the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office, Algarad was found with a wound on his arm.
The State Capitol Police Department is conducting an investigation, assisted by the City-County Bureau of Identification. Algarad was transferred to Central Prison in Wake County in May. He was considered a "safekeeper", which means he was transferred for three possible reasons: a public safety risk, mental issue and or a medical concern. The transfer came at the request of his attorney.
Skeletal Remains
Forsyth County Sheriff Deputies found the skeletal remains of Joshua Wetlzer and Tommy Dean Welch buried in a shallow grave in Algarad's backyard in October 2014. Both men were reported missing in 2009. Deputies also arrested and charged Algarad's wife, Amber Burch, with first degree murder. Investigators say Algarad and Burch each killed one of the men, and helped each other bury the remains. Krystal Matlock, 28, was also arrested and charged with one count of Accessory After the Fact to Murder. She is accused of helping Algarad bury remains.
According to the Medical Examiner's report, both Wetlzer and Welch died after being shot.
WFMY News 2's Morgan Hightower spoke to Wetzler's family members after his remains were identified. At the time, his mother said, "At least we all know what happened, or sort of know what happened. Where we thought he was, he is and now we can bring him home."
Toxic and Unsafe
The house on Knob Hill Drive was declared uninhabitable just days after the remains were found. A housing inspector noted several health hazards including:
- Hundreds of flies dead and alive
- Feces and urine that have been ground into the floors and walls
- Decaying animal parts and remains
- Appeared dried blood like substance appears on walls
- Mold and soot damaged walls and ceilings
- Animal cages with carcasses
A housing inspector with Forsyth County Housing and Community Development wore a Go-Pro camera as he walked through the house. He captured rooms with trash piled waist high, glass on the floor, pentagrams, swastikas and other satanic images spray painted on the walls.
The inspector is heard on the video saying, "Definitely unfit for human habitation," 46 seconds after walking in the front door.
Animal carcasses were found in a cage in the main living room. The hallway connecting the bedrooms is barely passable because of all the trash on the floor. As the inspector is walking down that hallway, one person is heard saying, "You haven't been to the worst part yet."
One of the bedrooms has trash piled about 4-feet high and the windows were painted black. In that room, the inspector noted "dried blood" appeared to be on the walls.
Satanic Rituals and Assaults
Documents filed in the Forysth County courthouse show there were "satanic rituals" and "animal sacrifices" in the house dating back to about 2010. The documents show Pazuzu Algarad performed the rituals "regularly" at the house. Algarad changed his name from John Lawson in 2002. 'Pazuzu' is the name of a demonic god who was referenced in the movie the Exorcist.
According to criminal records, both Algarad and his wife, Amber Burch, also charged in the murders, have been convicted of assaulting his mother in the last few years. The first incident in the Forsyth County court system happened in 2010. According to statements, Algarad choked his mother until she couldn't breathe. When officers tried to charge him, his mother said she didn't want to 'prosecute' him because she was afraid of him.
Burch was also convicted of hitting her mother-in-law in 2011. Records say, she "slapped, pushed and attempted to choke her."
Even in light of the assaults, Algarad's mother lived with the couple in her house on Knob Hill Drive where the skeletal remains were found. She was one of four people at the house when deputies arrested the couple.
Foreclosure, Demolition and Sale
The so-called "House of Horrors" was foreclosed on in March 2015. The next month, it was sold to the highest and only bidder, Wells Fargo, for $123,798.39. By the end of April, the house was demolished and the lot was cleared. The lot was sold to a neighbor in August.
This is a developing story. Stay with WFMY News 2 for updates and a live stream at Noon on wfmynews2.com
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