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Teenager accused of murder will face adult charges
Amer Ejak, along with a 22-year-old man, is accused of killing Thomas Johannesen Sept. 10 at a north Tampa apartment.
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY (Bay News 9) -- The 16-year-old accused of killing a man and then showing the body to friends has been charged as an adult.
Amer Ali Ejak, who along with 22-year-old Christopher J. Cox, is accused of killing 34-year-old Thomas Johannesen in early September at the older man's north Tampa apartment.
A judge denied bond for Ejak at his first appearance Tuesday.
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, Ejak and Cox were at Johannesen's residence at the Oak Ramble Apartments off Bruce B. Downs Boulevard on the night of September 10.
Deputies said Cox told the teenager to hit Johannesen in the head with a whiskey bottle.
The teenager hit Johannesen, who then fell to the ground, the report said. Deputies said the two suspects picked Johannesen up and put him on the couch, then placed a plastic bag over his head and tightened a belt around his neck until he was dead.
Officials said the suspects then put the body in a closet.
At some point after they left, the suspects asked two acquaintances if they had ever seen a dead body before, according to a deputy's report.
The suspects then brought the two acquaintances to the apartment and showed them the closet and the victim.
On Sept. 12, the two acquaintances who had seen Johannesen's body told a third person, who then called authorities.
Ejak was arrested Monday and charged with first degree murder.
Officials have not said how Johannesen knew the suspects or how they knew each other.
Ejak and Cox are both being held in Orient Road Jail without bail.
In accordance with Bay News 9's Crime Guidelines, Ejak's name is being released only because he is being charged as an adult.
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