Arrest, murder charge in body found in recycling bin case

HOUSTON (FOX 26) - Murder charges have been filed against Alex Akpan in the strangulation death of a woman whose body was found in a recycling bin in a bedroom.

Harris County Sheriff's Office homicide investigators arrested Akpan, 24, at around 6:22 p.m. Wednesday. He had already been charged with tampering with a human corpse.

The body of Irene Yemitan was found in the bin inside a southwest Houston home.

No bond has been set for Akpan, who is currently booked into the Harris County Jail.

Harris County District 4 deputies arrived on Wednesday, Sept. 5, at around 8 p.m. to the home on Wellsworth in response to a reported unknown medical emergency. Deputies spoke with the homeowner who stated she arrived home from work and discovered the female in a recycling bin inside her son’s bedroom. She had also told deputies that her son was nowhere to be found.

During the preliminary investigation, investigators noted the woman had no apparent signs of injury.