Teenager Allegedly Strangles Abusive Property Developer Father With Dog Leash - Details
Feb. 23 2019, Updated 9:47 p.m. ET
A teenage boy allegedly strangled his wealth property developer father with a dog leash.
And chillingly the 16-year-old told paramedic she "wasn't upset about his dad's death" when they arrived on scene.
William Bishop, 59, died by strangulation last April at his home in North Carolina.
A grand jury there has indicted his 16-year-old son on a murder charge.
The developer's death was ultimately caused by strangulation and deemed a homicide by police.
Durham Police said in a news release that the teenager was arrested Friday and charged with the April 2018 murder of his 59-year-old father.
Bishop, who developed prominent real estate projects in Florida, had been living in North Carolina for the last ten years. His son will be prosecuted as an adult for the horrific crime.
The bizarre death seemed like a freak accident, however, investigators were suspicious and an autopsy that ruled the death a homicide.
When officers arrived, the developer was in a leather chair in the home theater of the 4,000 square-foot house.
After being found unresponsive he died three days later in a hospital.
"Alexander explained that there had never been anything physical to occur, just constant verbal abuse over minor things like dishes being left in the sink and homework not being completed," a detective noted in the warrant.
The teen told them that he found his father with the leash wrapped around his neck, and the approximately 60-pound dog was still attached and 'freaking out' nearby.
Alexander said he removed the leash from his father's neck to check for a pulse.
His mother, Sharon, who lived elsewhere, soon arrived and told officers her son had called her to say he had found his father in the basement.
An autopsy later determined that he had died from homicide by strangulation, with ligature marks around his neck.
Bishop and his ex-wife had been separated since late 2016. They were married in 1998 in Florida, where Bishop had worked as a prominent developer.
The couple has two boys, about a year apart in age. Their father was granted permanent custody in 2017, according to court documents.
Bishop moved to North Carolina in 2008 to pursue an advanced degree.
His girlfriend had told investigators that Bishop kept $50,000 in gold and expensive jewelry in a safe located near the theater room, according to investigative documents.
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An examination of Alexander's cell phone showed that he had searched online about the value of gold, how to calculate the value of an estate and how to transfer bank accounts after a death, according to a warrant.
Detective T. Huelsman stated: "These searches and websites explain a possible motive for Alexander Bishop to kill his dad."
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