Police have arrested a San Francisco man on murder charges stemming from what authorities believe was a sadomasochistic bondage session that ended in the victim's death.
Terry D. Frazier, 40, was arrested Wednesday in the July 11 death of former community activist Joe Konopka, 65.
Police found Konopka's body at his home on the 500 block of Ashbury Street in the Upper Haight after someone called authorities from the address. He was bound with handcuffs and his face was covered with plastic.
Frazier was arrested at Sixth and Market streets on suspicion of murder, robbery, burglary and false imprisonment. He was also being held on an unrelated warrant for drug charges.
According to sources familiar with the case, investigators believe that Frazier bound Konopka with handcuffs during a bondage session and disabled an automatic release mechanism. As Konopka choked on the plastic, Frazier took his laptop computer, jewelry and cell phone, police believe.
Police Lt. John Murphy of the homicide detail would not comment about the specifics of the case. Frazier was being held without bail and is expected to be arraigned today.
Konopka once presided over monthly meetings of a now-defunct neighborhood watch group known as RAD, formerly Residents Against Druggies, whose members crusaded against street-level drug dealers.
"We knew when we started it we were putting our butts on the line," Konopka, who had lived in the Haight since the late 1970s, told The Chronicle in 1993. "But we're in danger of losing the neighborhood, and we refuse to leave. We refuse to give up the neighborhood."
Konopka ran twice for city supervisor, then faded away from neighborhood activism. MagazineLane.com
Terry D. Frazier, 40, was arrested Wednesday in the July 11 death of former community activist Joe Konopka, 65.
Police found Konopka's body at his home on the 500 block of Ashbury Street in the Upper Haight after someone called authorities from the address. He was bound with handcuffs and his face was covered with plastic.
Frazier was arrested at Sixth and Market streets on suspicion of murder, robbery, burglary and false imprisonment. He was also being held on an unrelated warrant for drug charges.
According to sources familiar with the case, investigators believe that Frazier bound Konopka with handcuffs during a bondage session and disabled an automatic release mechanism. As Konopka choked on the plastic, Frazier took his laptop computer, jewelry and cell phone, police believe.
Police Lt. John Murphy of the homicide detail would not comment about the specifics of the case. Frazier was being held without bail and is expected to be arraigned today.
Konopka once presided over monthly meetings of a now-defunct neighborhood watch group known as RAD, formerly Residents Against Druggies, whose members crusaded against street-level drug dealers.
"We knew when we started it we were putting our butts on the line," Konopka, who had lived in the Haight since the late 1970s, told The Chronicle in 1993. "But we're in danger of losing the neighborhood, and we refuse to leave. We refuse to give up the neighborhood."
Konopka ran twice for city supervisor, then faded away from neighborhood activism. MagazineLane.com
