Boise, ID: Seattle Police arrest man with possible connection to suspicious Boise death

by Justin Corr

Idaho's NewsChannel 7
Posted on March 19, 2011 at 11:57 AM
Updated today at 5:23 PM

SEATTLE -- A man wanted for stealing the car of his dead ex-fiance has been taken into custody in Seattle.

Lloyd Hardin McNeil was arrested Friday afternoon on an outstanding grand theft warrant.

Detectives in Boise believe McNeil drove off in 30-year-old Natalie Davis' car around the time of her death.

Saturday, police were still calling Davis' death suspicious, not a homicide. But a woman KTVB talked to said police told her that McNeil is Natalie's murderer.

Police had been looking for McNeil for about two weeks. For at least a week, according to a source, he has been in Seattle, Washington, first staying at a hostel there.

That same source, who we'll call Jane, said McNeil was calling himself Hardin Lloydson.

"He was really believably a nice person," said Jane.

McNeil claimed he needed a place to stay for a few days, and some of Jane's friends took him in.

Jane saw him on numerous occasions.

"He kept talking about his ex-girlfriend, and how they broke up, and how they broke up," said Jane. "I had no idea about what really happened."

Jane happened to be at the house on Friday afternoon, when her friend called her in a panic.

"She's like, absolutely terrified," said Jane. "She's crying, and she's not exactly telling me much about what's going on. But she says that the cops are there looking for Hardin, and I need to get out of there, and go."

But before Jane could leave, there were five squad cars at the house.

"They had their guns drawn, pointed at the windows," said Jane. "And I'm like, 'Oh my gosh, what's going on?' Next thing I know, Hardin's in the backyard with his dogs trying to leave. They got their guns on him, and tell him to get on the ground."

McNeil was arrested, and Jane was shocked to learn who he actually was. Even though Boise Police have never called Davis' death a homicide, or called McNeil a suspect in that death, Seattle Police said McNeil murdered her.

"They told us homicide," said Jane. "They said that he burned his fiance to a crisp. Like, those were their words."

Seattle Police also told Jane that they found Natalie Davis' car abandoned by the hostel where McNeil had stayed. They said they tracked McNeil by his cellphone, even though Jane said he would immediately turn off his cellphone after using it.

Jane also said police told her that McNeil will be extradited back to Idaho. Police have not officially commented on that yet.