Blood Leads To Body Dead Roommate Found After Aid Call

Police arrested a man on a murder charge Monday after authorities responding to his call for help found his roommate dead nearby.

Brian Dwayne Grimm, 31, of 1303 W. Wabash, is expected to be charged with second-degree murder today.

Detectives believe Grimm attacked his roommate about 3 a.m. at the small brown house near Wabash and Hawthorne.

Investigators withheld the victim’s name and how he was killed. They also refused to discuss a motive.

Police spokesman Dick Cottam said he probably would release some of that information today after an autopsy is completed.

Major crimes Lt. Jerry Oien said the victim was in his 40s and had a 25-year-old daughter.

Neighbors said he moved in with Grimm a few months ago.

The case, Spokane’s sixth homicide this year, began as a routine medical call.

Grimm dialed 911 about 3:10 a.m. Monday and asked for help, saying he was hurt, Oien said.

Paramedics, firefighters and police responded to the call and found Grimm with a lacerated hand and bloody clothing, Oien said.

As they prepared to take him to the hospital, they saw a body on the sidewalk a block east of the house.

Evidence suggested the victim was stabbed inside the house.

A trail of blood led out the front door, through a gate and down the sidewalk to the body, which was face down and covered with blood.

The victim was wearing only a pair of dark-colored shorts and had a thin chain clasped around his neck.

Detectives threw a blue utility tarp over the body, which remained on the sidewalk for nearly seven hours while they conducted their investigation.

Police cordoned off Wabash between Hawthorne and Jefferson and restricted traffic on side streets.

One neighbor leaving with her two school-age children detoured through an alley to avoid driving past the body. The streets were reopened by early afternoon.

Neighbors reported hearing nothing suspicious Monday morning, except a few dogs barking about 2:30 a.m.

Catherine Dellinger, who lives next door to the men, knew Grimm.

Dellinger said he moved into the rented house about two years ago. She thought he worked at a fast-food restaurant.

He was a quiet neighbor who last year planted a little flower garden, Dellinger said.

“I never saw any parties. I never saw anything objectionable,” she said. “He was pleasant.”

Dellinger said Grimm and his roommate worked in their yard Sunday and everything seemed fine.

Court records show two arrests for Grimm since 1992, one for carrying a concealed weapon and one for fourth-degree assault.

Dellinger said she can’t believe he would turn violent.

“I sure hope it wasn’t Brian,” she said. “He wouldn’t hurt anybody as far as I can tell.”

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