TACOMA, Wash. -- Pierce County prosecutors say a Bonney Lake man killed his live-in girlfriend in a fight that started over dirty dishes.
Murder charge was filed Tuesday against the 38-year-old man, Mthulisi Ndlovu.
According to court documents, Ndlovu had reported the 42-year-old woman, Mary Mushapaidzi, missing on Sunday. Police later discovered human remains in a burn barrel at the couple's home.
Court documents say the couple argued Saturday night about dirty dishes. He says she struck him in the face with her purse, which threw him into a rage, and he hit her with pruning shears.
When Ndlovu realized Mashapaidzi was dead, he said he dragged her to the garage and placed her into a metal barrel. He left for work, came back and placed charcoal into the barrel in an effort to burn the body.
Court documents say the burning took place while the garage door was closed. Investigators noticed all the fire detectors in the house had been disabled.
The two have a 2-year-old child. She also had an 8-year-old.
