Police Arrest Man Accused of Killing Roommate in Fayetteville
On June 12, 2024, officers responded to a welfare concern at an apartment on Lapis Lane in Fayetteville following a tip about a murder that took place on June 8. Upon arriving at the scene, they found the body of 33-year-old Benjamin Martin lying on the kitchen floor.
Roommate Jason Lawson, 28, was later found and arrested for the crime. Lawson’s statement revealed that he and Martin got into an argument, during which Martin allegedly raised a hammer towards him. In response, Lawson opened his pocket knife, after which Martin fell onto the blade, according to the official report.
Lawson’s story described the events as a blur, and he could not recall the location of the murder weapon. Furthermore, he was found to have attempted to clean the crime scene and poured gasoline on Martin’s body and the surrounding area before fleeing the scene.
Police were able to locate Lawson in Rogers on June 13 and bring him in for further questioning. He was subsequently arrested and charged with first-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence. The investigation uncovered evidence to support the witness’ statements, and Lawson was deceptive in many of his replies during the interview.
### Martin’s Body and Timeline
- Martin’s body was taken to the Arkansas State Crime Lab for autopsy.
- Lawson was arrested on June 13 and held at the Washington County Jail.
### Key Events
- June 8: The murder took place.
- June 12: Police responded to the welfare concern and found the body.
- June 13: Lawson was arrested in Rogers.
- June 14: Lawson’s arrest was made public, and charges were announced.
