A grim discovery was made in a Salem apartment building when firefighters extinguishing a blaze found the body of Kristopher Douglas Stokes. Following an autopsy by the State Medical Examiner’s Office, Stokes' death has been ruled a homicide, sparking a new police investigation.

In an incident that brought both tragedy and concern to the Salem community, the suspect, identified as David James Damon Alexander, 45, was apprehended by a Salem Police officer in the 700 block of Commercial ST NE. Lodged at the Marion County Jail, he faces charges of second-degree murder and third-degree robbery, according to a report by the City of Salem. Found concealed inside the dwelling where the fire occurred, Stokes’ life came to an abrupt end under suspicious circumstances.

The arrest of Alexander, undertaken without any reported issues, marks a pivotal turn in this sad tale. He is currently being held at the Marion County Jail as the case against him is being built. Solemnly awaiting the wheels of justice to grind forward, the residents of Salem keep a watchful and worried eye, pondering the vulnerability of life in the face of such unsettling circumstances. As the neighborhood struggles to return to its daily rhythms, a cloud of unease still lingers over the apartment complex, touched by flame and foul play.