A Connecticut man allegedly decapitated his landlord after he was told he needed to move out over overdue rent, police said.

Jerry David Thompson was arrested and charged with murder for allegedly beheading his landlord, Victor King, who rented him out a room in his home in Hartford, Connecticut.

The altercation between the pair first started after the Hartford Police Department responded to a 911 phone call from Mr King, 64, on Saturday.

He told police his 42-year-old roommate, Mr Thompson, was “waving a sword at him in a threatening and terrorising manner” over a rent dispute, according to an arrest warrant.

Mr King gave police his contact information after discussing the incident. It was unclear if the police ever spoke to Mr Thompson.

Then police received a call from a neighbour and a separate friend on Sunday asking for a wellness check on Mr King as they both were worried about his safety.

Police entered the residence on Sunday afternoon to discover Mr King dead with his body badly slashed and covered in bloody bedding.

A medical examiner suggested Mr King’s injuries were consistent with a large edged weapon, according to CNN, and noted “lacerations to the landlord’s right arm, upper chest and across the neck causing decapitation”.

Police questioned Mr Thompson, who refused to answer any questions or speak. He then wrote on a piece of paper that a “paper in glove compart in Jeep is all you need”, police said.

After obtaining a search warrant, investigators discovered paperwork in Mr Thompson’s vehicle that suggested he believed he was a “sovereign citizen” or an individual not subjected to any statues and can interpret laws in their own way.

Mr Thompson appeared in court on Tuesday and reportedly refused to speak to his public defender. He will be held in jail in lieu of $2m bond and is expected to again appear in court on 15 August.

Jim Banks, a cousin of Mr King, described his relative as “one of the good guys” when speaking to the Hartford Courant.

“One that would never hurt a soul,” he said. “One that would always reach out and help others. He was pleasant as can be. Always seemed to be happy. He was just a joy to be around.”

THIS is why I keep pushing safety. We don't know what is in ANYONE's brain. It only takes one.

-Lockbox self tours.

-No last names. I use a nickname.

-No home addresses.

Stay safe out there!

BRAD

My understanding the two were actually a couple and this was the end result of a lovers quarrel.

Interesting -- do you have a link to a news story saying anything about that? I did a quick search and couldn't find anything that suggested it. The killer wrote a note beforehand claiming that he is a "sovereign citizen" and can't be prosecuted. Other than that, everything says that he's refused to talk to anyone -- even his public defendant. So, I'm curious where the "lover's quarrel" part comes in.

I actually think most news sources would find that MORE "interesting to the public", so it seems odd that it is not being covered if it is the case.

Can you tell us where you heard that? I'm just curious to read about it since no one else is reporting it.

- John...

I highly doubt it was a lover's quarrel.

The arrest warrant stated that King had called 911 the day before his death to report that Thompson, his recent roommate and tenant, was "waving a sword at him in a threatening and terrorizing manner" after King told him to move out due to unpaid rent.

HPD Lt. Paul Cicero told the Hartford Courant that they believe Thompson used the same sword to kill his landlord.

Thompson has reportedly refused to speak with detectives, and after his arrest, he directed the police to documents in his car that identified him as a "sovereign citizen."

The FBI describes sovereign citizens as "anti-government extremists" who consider themselves to be noncitizens and "believe they don’t have to answer to any government authority, including courts, taxing entities, motor vehicle departments, or law enforcement."

Thompson did not speak to the court or to the public defender during his arraignment in Hartford Superior Court on Tuesday, the Courant reported.

The Hartford Police Department did not respond to a request for comment to BuzzFeed News.

King was a nationally ranked champion bridge player who had obtained the "highest rank" of the American Contract Bridge League — a Grand Life Master. He retired from his job as a self-described "IT-Jack-of-all-trades" at Travelers Insurance in February 2018.

In a Facebook post Tuesday, King's cousin James Banks described him as "a kind and gentle man who was always fun to be around."

I highly doubt it was a lover's quarrel.

The arrest warrant stated that King had called 911 the day before his death to report that Thompson, his recent roommate and tenant, was "waving a sword at him in a threatening and terrorizing manner" after King told him to move out due to unpaid rent.

HPD Lt. Paul Cicero told the Hartford Courant that they believe Thompson used the same sword to kill his landlord.

Thompson has reportedly refused to speak with detectives, and after his arrest, he directed the police to documents in his car that identified him as a "sovereign citizen."

The FBI describes sovereign citizens as "anti-government extremists" who consider themselves to be noncitizens and "believe they don’t have to answer to any government authority, including courts, taxing entities, motor vehicle departments, or law enforcement."

Thompson did not speak to the court or to the public defender during his arraignment in Hartford Superior Court on Tuesday, the Courant reported.

The Hartford Police Department did not respond to a request for comment to BuzzFeed News.

King was a nationally ranked champion bridge player who had obtained the "highest rank" of the American Contract Bridge League — a Grand Life Master. He retired from his job as a self-described "IT-Jack-of-all-trades" at Travelers Insurance in February 2018.

In a Facebook post Tuesday, King's cousin James Banks described him as "a kind and gentle man who was always fun to be around."