A Pizza Hut worker in South Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is facing charges of murder in relation to his manager’s death, an act believed to be driven by a desire for financial gain. Kavonn Ingram, 31, is accused of killing 55-year-old Alex Stengel, reportedly to steal a cash inheritance of $7,000.
The crime occurred on February 5, 2024, when Stengel, a resident of Cudahy, Wisconsin, was violently attacked in the kitchen of the Pizza Hut restaurant where both men were employed. Authorities report that Ingram, originally from Milwaukee, shot and slashed Stengel’s throat before hiding the body in a garbage bag.
Two days after the incident, a garbage collector made the grim discovery of Stengel’s body in a dumpster behind the restaurant. This led to an investigation which traced the crime back to its origin at the Pizza Hut.
Investigations suggest that Stengel’s announcement of cashing a $7,000 check, and then showing off the money, which he boasted about with his coworkers, may have been the catalyst for the subsequent tragic events.
South Milwaukee police followed a trail of blood from the dumpster to the restaurant’s kitchen, the alleged location of the attack. According to the criminal complaint, after the murder, Ingram is believed to have concealed Stengel’s body in a garbage bag, placed it in a trash can, and moved it to the dumpster.
Further evidence pointing to robbery as a possible motive came from the fact that Stengel’s wallet, keys, and cell phone were missing. Security footage showed Ingram moving the trash can containing Stengel’s body to the dumpsters around 10:30 a.m. on the day of the incident.
Ingram’s attempts to conceal his involvement, which included clocking out for Stengel after his death and using Stengel’s phone to text a regional manager, did not deter law enforcement. Ingram has been arrested and charged with first-degree homicide, concealing a corpse as part of a crime, armed robbery, and illegal firearm possession by a felon. He is currently held on a $200,000 cash bond.
The criminal complaint also includes a conversation between Ingram and his girlfriend where Ingram allegedly talked about getting Stengel’s money and planning his murder. A search at Ingram’s home found a loaded gun and blood-stained Pizza Hut paychecks, further connecting him to the crime.
Ingram is prohibited from contacting anyone working at the Pizza Hut where the crime took place. His next court date is slated for February 23.
