Man arrested in Tulsa for slaying extradited to Michigan

HART, Mich. (AP) -- A hitchhiker accused of killing a Michigan man who gave him a ride has been extradited to Michigan following his arrest in Oklahoma.<br/><br/>Thomas Eugene McWilliams was arraigned

Monday, December 27th 2004, 6:09 pm

By: News On 6

HART, Mich. (AP) -- A hitchhiker accused of killing a Michigan man who gave him a ride has been extradited to Michigan following his arrest in Oklahoma.

Thomas Eugene McWilliams was arraigned Monday after being taken to the Oceana County Jail on Saturday. He faces a January 4th hearing that will decide if there's enough evidence for him to stand trial.

The 45-year-old McWilliams was arrested December 1st. He's charged with open murder in the death of 70-year-old William Routley, whose body was found two days after Thanksgiving in his mobile home.

McWilliams was identified in a surveillance video taken at a Benton Harbor convenience store where Routley's credit cards were used. Officials believe McWilliams drove the victim's truck to Oklahoma.