A man has been charged with murder after assaulting his housemate.

The case began after the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office got a call at 1:08 a.m. Wednesday about domestic violence at a house on Township Road 287 in Chesapeake.

When deputies arrived at the scene, they found 52-year-old James A. Baker Jr. unconscious in a bedroom and called for medical assistance.

Lawrence County EMS arrived to provide care but were unable to revive Baker.

Deputies were told by a witness that Baker and 43-year-old Kenneth J. Radimaker had been living together for the past several months and that the two had an argument that escalated into a physical fight and Radimaker assaulted Baker with his hands.

Investigators from the Lawrence County Coroner’s Office declared Baker deceased at the scene.

Radimaker fled the scene before deputies arrived.

After an extensive search, Radimaker was found and arrested by deputies in a wooded area behind the residence around 3 a.m. He was taken to the Lawrence County Jail on unspecified felony murder charge. An arraignment has been set for 9 a.m. on Friday in the Lawrence County Municipal Court.

Baker has been sent to the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office for an autopsy.

Sheriff Jeff Lawless said the case is in its early stage and remains under investigation by detectives.

Ohio BCI&I crime scene technicians have been called to process the crime scene.

Lawless would like to thank his deputies for their diligence in locating this suspect. We would also like to thank the Lawrence County EMS, Ohio State Highway Patrol, South Point Police Department, Huntington Police Department and the Cabell County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance