An Ohio man has been charged with the murder of a missing 27-year-old after police reported discovering the victim’s dismembered remains inside the vehicle he was driving. The investigation began after family and friends raised alarms over the disappearance of Malicai Calder, who had not been heard from since mid-November.
According to the Toledo Police Department, officers arrested 33-year-old Martel Huggins on Tuesday in connection with Calder’s death. Calder was first reported missing last Saturday, prompting multiple agencies to begin search and welfare checks.
The case escalated quickly when officers located Huggins on Mulberry Street and stopped him while he was behind the wheel of Calder’s work vehicle. The arrest report states that police found parts of Calder’s body inside the vehicle during the stop. Affidavits later revealed that the victim had suffered gunshot and stab wounds.
A statement from the coroner’s office confirmed that Calder’s body had been dismembered and that his death was ruled a homicide. Police said they were actively investigating Calder’s disappearance at the same time they encountered Huggins.
The location officers were examining during the missing person investigation is listed as Huggins’ home address, though authorities have not explained how the two men knew each other. Investigators have also not released any details regarding a possible motive or what may have led up to the killing, local WTVG reported.
The timeline of the disappearance shows that concerns were raised days before the gruesome discovery. One of Calder’s friends told police that he had not been seen or heard from since Nov. 15. Officers conducted a safety check at Calder’s apartment on Nov. 21, where they found the shower running, the television on, and a dog barking. The report noted that officers did not detect any foul odors at the time.
The Northwood Police Department released a statement on Wednesday saying its officers were also sent to perform a welfare check on Calder on Monday after reports that his vehicle was missing. This information eventually led police to track down the work vehicle that Huggins was driving.
Huggins is now facing several charges, including murder and felonious assault. During a court appearance this week, a judge set his bond at one million dollars as he awaits his next scheduled court date in December.
Authorities have emphasized that the investigation remains active and that additional details may be released as detectives continue to examine evidence gathered from both the vehicle and the residence linked to the suspect. The community remains shaken by the disturbing nature of the case, and police have urged anyone with information to come forward as the investigation moves forward.
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