Bound man, 59, beaten to death in basement

Police are investigating the slaying of a 59-year-old man who was found bound, gagged and beaten to death in the basement of his North Philadelphia home.

Wesley Murray's death was one of two homicides reported over the weekend.

Officers responding to a call for a hospital case found Murray in the basement on the 2300 block of West Firth Street about 4:53 p.m. Friday, police said.

He had been bound at the wrists and gagged and had suffered blunt trauma injuries to the head, neck and body, police said. Medics pronounced him dead at he scene at 4:58 p.m.

Investigators have not disclosed if they have established a motive in the killing.

Police also were said to be seeking a motive in the shooting death of Maki Thomas, 26, of the 900 block of North 64th Street in West Philadelphia's Overbrook section.

Thomas was found shot in the head and neck inside a Nissan Maxima about 1:10 a.m. Saturday on the 4900 block of Springdale Avenue, in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood, police said.

The car's engine was still running and the doors locked when police arrived and saw the driver's door window shot out, police said.

Medics pronounced Thomas dead at the scene at 1:23 a.m.