Bednago Harper Charged With Fatally Stabbing Friend, Hiding Body In Closet In His Apartment

A Chicago man charged with stabbing his friend to death and hiding him in a closet in his apartment was denied bail Sunday.

Bednago Harper, 46, has been charged in the death of Jermaine Reynolds, 39, the Chicago Tribune reports.

Prosecutors argued that the two were friends and that Harper bought drugs from Reynolds. On Nov. 4, the two reportedly got into an argument because Harper thought Reynolds had taken his lost unemployment card away from him, according to the Tribune.

The argument got heated and Harper allegedly stabbed Reynolds 40 to 50 times with an awl, a long, pointed spike used to carve wood.

After the stabbings, Harper then allegedly took Reynolds' cell phone and keys and dragged his body into a closet in his apartment in the 4000 block of S. Lake Park Avenue, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

Police were first alerted to the crime three days later, when two painters noted that a foul odor was emanating from Harper's apartment, according to CBS Chicago.

Harper, who has previously spent time in prison on two burglary charges, allegedly told a witness about the stabbing a day after it occurred, as he reportedly told a woman that someone had broken into his apartment and tried to steal $14 from him. He was arrested Nov. 9 and taken to Saint Bernard Hospital and Medical Center for a psychiatric evaluation, the Tribune reports.