Michael Alexander Thomas murdered Sonia Corbin at the 7hills Homeless Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas, on Feb. 17, 2024, police said. (Mug shot: Washington County Sheriff’s Office; screenshot of the facility: KHBS)

A man who fatally choked a woman in a homeless center warming tent tried to explain it away as a “citizen’s arrest,” but surveillance footage showed he lingered there for hours and did nothing to help her, according to cops in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Michael Alexander Thomas, 33, is in the Washington County jail for murder in the second degree and possession of drug paraphernalia, records show.

“The female attempted to escape Michael’s rear chokehold, but Michael held the female on the ground,” the affidavit stated. “The female violently kicked her feet but slowly stopped kicking as her body became motionless. Approximately 5 minutes later, Michael stood up and briefly stood over the female’s body. Michael grabbed a nearby brown jacket and removed a smoking pipe from the jacket. After smoking from the pipe, Michael stood over the female’s body, put his hands together, and bowed. Approximately 4 minutes later, Michael grabbed a nearby blanket and covered the female.”

The arrest affidavit did not reveal the woman’s name, but a report from Fort Smith ABC affiliate KHBS identified her as Sonia Corbin, 37.