A Wade man found dead in his home last month had sustained his fatal injuries the week before in a fight with the person charged in his killing, court records reveal.
Kareem Jamal Butler, 50, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Christopher William Torok, 54. According to his obituary, Torok was the father of one and owner of Carolina Machine Company in Fayetteville.
His body was found in the bedroom of his River Road home Nov. 11 by a neighbor with a key who had been unable to get ahold of him, according to the 911 call.
Butler was arrested by the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office on Dec. 5 at his home in the 6400 block of Rutherglen Drive, the record shows.
According to the arrest warrant, Torok hosted a small party Nov. 3 with Butler and another person when he and Butler got into a fight. The warrant states that after Torok was knocked unconscious in the affray, "BUTLER stood over top of (him) and continued to punch and kick him."
The other individual who was present allegedly "forced" Butler off Torok.
"After a few moments of convincing BUTLER to end his assault, (the friend) stated she assisted TOROK to the bathroom to get him cleaned up,' the warrant said.
The friend described the assault as "brutal," and said she "had never seen anyone beat like that." She told the detective that afterward, she watched Torok sleep for several hours, fearful that he may have had internal bleeding, according to the warrant.
More: Fayetteville man charged with murder in Wade beating death
The record states that on Nov. 7, a paramedic friend who had heard of the fight checked on Torok, and saw that he had two black eyes and blood in his left eye. The paramedic said his blood pressure at the time was low and his breathing erratic and she encouraged him to see a doctor.
An autopsy found that "Torok had a hemorrhaging on both sides of his head near his ears at the base of his skull, hemorrhaging around his left eye and there was bleeding on the brain," the warrant states. The Sheriff's Office said the cause of death was blunt force trauma.
Related: Worried family of missing Fayetteville man looking for answers
When speaking with detectives on Nov. 30, Butler allegedly admitted fighting with Torok, the warrant states.
Additionally, the record states, a camera found at Torok's home contained still images of Butler standing over Torok and an image of the friend trying to pull Butler away.
Butler remained in the Cumberland County jail Monday without bail.
Public safety reporter Joseph Pierre can be reached at [email protected].
