WEIRTON - Michael Scott Truax is behind bars after a January argument over a neighbor's dirty apartment turned deadly.
Truax, 47, of 1412 Pennsylvania Ave., Apt. 2, was arrested without incident at about 5 p.m. Saturday, according to Weirton police Sgt. Greg Moodie. Truax is accused in the Jan. 20 death of 51-year-old Frank Barone.
Truax and Barone occupied separate apartments above Big Al's Bar and Grill. Moodie said Truax reported finding Barone's body at the bottom of a staircase leading up to the apartments - hours after the two were seen arguing in the downstairs bar.
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TRUAX: Allegedly argued with neighbor over cleanliness
According to Moodie, the investigation began after an autopsy revealed blunt force trauma as the cause of Barone's death.
"That changed the focus of the investigation toward homicide," said Moodie.
According to the criminal complaint filed in Hancock County Magistrate Court, bar patrons told investigators Truax and Barone were engaged in an argument throughout the evening of Jan. 19; the dispute reportedly was over Barone "having an unclean, stinking apartment." The document also states Truax made several threats toward Barone, and neighbors said the disagreement continued in the stairwell in the early morning hours of Jan. 20 after the bar closed.
Truax admitted that during the confrontation on the stairs, Barone "stepped in front of him ... he elbowed Frank (Barone) knocking him down the steps," the complaint states.
Truax said he then returned to his apartment and went to sleep. He told investigators he knew Barone had fallen down the stairs but did not render aid, and he said he did not leave his apartment again until about 5 p.m., when he discovered Barone's body at the bottom of the stairs.
Truax was lodged Tuesday in the Northern Regional Jail at Moundsville on $250,000 bond, charged with murder. Moodie said Truax is scheduled to appear Friday for a hearing in magistrate court.