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Police: Suspect admitted to killing in hatchet death

Warren County Jail

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A suspect told detectives Wednesday that he killed his former boss with a hatchet in Tennessee earlier in the week, and the hatchet, a large knife and blood were still in his car, according to Nashville police.

The admission by 36-year-old suspect Domenic Micheli follows his capture in Kentucky by state police the night before.

Nashville police say Micheli killed his ex-boss, 46-year-old Joel Paavola, with a hatchet and another bladed instrument Monday morning as Paavola led a workout at The Balance Training center in the Belle Meade community. Police say Paavola had fired Micheli from the gym 14 months ago.

State, federal and local authorities worked for a day and a half to find Micheli.

On Tuesday evening, a concerned motorist in Kentucky who had heard about the case in the news called police after seeing Micheli's car on Interstate 65 near the Tennessee border, said Kentucky State Police Lt. Jeremy Smith of the Bowling Green post.

State Police then stopped the car about 25 miles north on the highway and arrested Micheli without incident, Smith said.

Micheli was first brought to the hospital to treat a cut on his left leg, then he was taken to jail in Warren County, Kentucky, police said. He is being held without bond awaiting extradition. A criminal homicide arrest warrant will be served upon his return to Nashville.

Micheli was found competent last month to stand trial in a separate case after the U.S. Secret Service arrested him near the White House in April, according to a Washington federal court document.

Police have said he drove to a checkpoint near the White House and refused directions to move, a misdemeanor charge.