Columbia man accused of leaving corpse in room for ‘weeks’

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia man was charged Monday with abandoning a corpse after allegedly leaving his roommate's body in an apartment for what police say could have been weeks.

Ira C. Baldwin was issued a summons for the Class E felony and released, according to online court records. An initial hearing is set for June.

Police went to Baldwin's apartment at 2012 W. Ash St. on a check welfare call on March 24 and found his roommate's body severely decomposed, according to a probable cause statement. Baldwin's roommate had apparently died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the statement says.

The victim's death was estimated at 10 days to three weeks prior.

Baldwin allegedly told police he had last seen his roommate in late January. He said he was scared to go into the room and felt "relief" when police came to the door, according to the statement.

Baldwin also told police that he and his roommate had lived together for four years, the statement says.