Thomas pleads not guilty in woman’s choking death

FAYETTEVILLE — A homeless man pleaded not guilty Monday to a murder charge in connection with the death of a woman in a warming tent in Fayetteville last month.

Michael Alexander Thomas, 33, is charged with second-degree murder/manslaughter and possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor.

Thomas was given an Oct. 21 court date before Judge Mark Lindsay in Washington County Circuit Court. Thomas was being held Monday at the Washington County Detention Center in lieu of $750,000 bond.

Police said the victim was Sonia Corbin, 37, of Fayetteville.

Fayetteville police were called to 7 Hills Day Center, 1832 S. School Ave., on Feb. 17 to assist the Fire Department with an unresponsive female inside a warming tent on the east side of the building just after 8 p.m., according to a news release.

Detectives obtained security camera footage from a camera in the tent. Corbin was seen on video arguing with a man, identified as Thomas.

The argument “quickly intensified and the female attempted to push past Michael to exit the warming tent,” according to a preliminary police report. “Michael’s arm encircled the female’s neck from her back into a rear chokehold, and Michael appeared to pull the female to the ground. The female attempted to escape Michael’s rear chokehold, but Michael held the female on the ground. The female violently kicked her feet, but slowly stopped kicking as her body became motionless.”

About five minutes later, Thomas stood up and briefly stood over Corbin’s body before grabbing a nearby brown jacket and removing a smoking pipe from the pocket, according to the report. After smoking from the pipe, Thomas was seen on the video standing over Corbin’s body again, putting his hands together and bowing, according to the report.

About four minutes later, Thomas grabbed a nearby blanket and covered Corbin’s body, according to the report. Thomas stayed in the tent with Corbin’s body for about three more hours. He left after another person entered the warming tent and saw the body under the blanket, unresponsive.

Police located and arrested Thomas just after 9 a.m. the following day at a campsite just north of marker 60 on Town Branch Trail. The smoking pipe found in his pocket tested positive for methamphetamine.

Thomas, in a subsequent interview, told police Corbin was acting erratically so he placed her in a chokehold to “citizen’s arrest her.” He also said Corbin stopped moving and her eyes were open when he released her. Thomas told police he did not have a phone to call 911, didn’t attempt to revive Corbin and did not seek help for her.

If convicted of second-degree murder, Thomas faces six to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000.

Thomas