RANDLEMAN, N.C. — Randleman police said a man is charged with murder, accused of stabbing and beating his roommate to death. Right before that happened, police said he rammed his roommate's car into another vehicle occupied by his ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend.
On Tuesday, Asheboro police asked Randleman police to check on 44-year-old Katie Marie Bishop at her apartment on Reece Court in Randleman.
Asheboro police had 26-year-old David James Alexandro Rosales in their custody on a separate case. They said on that same day, Asheboro officers were called to a fight near East Pritchard Street and Farr Street.
When officers arrived, they saw two vehicles with damage and three people fighting. Police said Rosales was in his roommate Bishop's car.
During their investigation, officers determined that Rosales had purposely rammed another car that his ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend were inside.
Rosales was arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, among other charges.
Asheboro police said while in their custody, Rosales told officers "he had murdered Katie Bishop and her body was in a closet."
Randleman police entered Bishop's home through a window when no one answered the door. That's when they found Bishop's body inside a closet as Rosales described.
Police said she'd been stabbed and beaten to death with a blunt object.
Randleman Police Sergeant, Micah Lowe said, "this is not a common situation."
WFMY News 2's Amber Lake spoke to a friend of Bishop's who described her as a nice person who loved to sing karaoke.
Bishop's cousin, Patricia Welch, said she was an only child who lost her mother at a very young age. She said Bishop "didn't deserve this."
Welch explained, "We are just trying to figure out what we can do to uplift her dad. Just trying to make sense as to why this happened. It’s hard when you have someone to pass but it’s even harder when the crime of it and how it was done."
Bishop was known to love her friends, and her cats and to sing karaoke at Kamikaze's Tavern.
"She was just a bubbly person and I know that she had so many friends that loved her and she loved them," Welch said.
Kamikazes owner, Isaac Bennett said Bishop had an amazing voice and was the kindest human you'll ever meet. "She never met a stranger, she was always smiling just as friendly and loving, always walking up to give someone a hug."
Detectives are still investigating a motive.
Rosales was charged with murder and placed in Randolph County Jail without bond.
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is assisting in the investigation.
Kamikazes Tavern will hold an event on October 23rd at 3 pm in honor of Bishop. Bennett said the proceeds will go towards Bishop's funeral.
