YOUNGSTOWN — William J. Fowler, 42, of Youngstown, is in the Mahoning County jail awaiting extradition to Inglewood, Calif., where he is charged with murder in the June 18, 2015, killing of James Hollis, 75, in Hollis’ Inglewood, California home.

The Inglewood Police Department last month thanked the Youngstown Police Department and the Mahoning Valley Violent Crimes Task Force for their help in the cold-case investigation and in helping to arrest Fowler in Youngstown.

“Your officers’ professionalism, expertise and dedication were crucial in advancing the case, leading to an arrest and a murder charge being filed in Los Angeles County,” Inglewood police Chief Mark Fronterotta said in a March 11 letter to Youngstown police Chief Carl Davis.

“This collaboration highlights the power of teamwork in protecting our communities,” Fronterotta stated in the letter.

He said the Youngstown-area officers demonstrated a “willingness to go above and beyond,” adding, “Thanks to your department’s efforts, both our community and Youngstown are safer.”

Youngstown police officer Marc Gillette, who is assigned to the FBI Violent Crime Task Force, said he was contacted Jan. 27 by Inglewood, California, police investigator David Garrido, who said he was working on the Hollis 2015 cold case homicide.

Gillette said the Inglewood police department and the FBI Violent Crime Task Force worked together. And later a warrant was issued for Fowler’s arrest, Gillette said.

Online records from the Superior Court of California County of Los Angeles show that Fowler was charged March 3 with murder and a “deadly weapon” specification. It lists no pending court hearings.

Gillette said the warrant was “served without incident on Feb. 27,” and Fowler was taken into custody at a home on South Bruce Avenue on Youngstown’s East Side, Gillette said. Mahoning County jail records indicate that Fowler has been in the jail since Feb. 27.

Gillette said he cannot discuss many details of the investigation but he can say that local officers assisted with search warrants and other matters and assisted with Fowler’s arrest, Gillette said. “We worked together for about a month,” Gillette said. “We were able to form a relationship with Inglewood, Calif., P.D. and their (FBI) task force out there,” he said.

Fowler is originally from Youngstown but went to California for a while and returned to Youngstown, Gillette said. Youngstown Municipal Court records indicate that Fowler was in Youngstown in June of 2017 and lived on Pearl Street in Youngstown when he was convicted of a minor misdemeanor traffic offense in January of 2024 in Boardman. He did not appear to have a felony record in Mahoning County.

Mahoning County Common Pleas Court records did not indicate Friday when Fowler’s extradition hearing will be held or if it has already been held.

According to news reports, shortly after Hollis died, his mutilated body was found by his son in an Inglewood apartment complex.

The ABC7.com website reported in June of 2015 that Hollis touched many through his gospel singing.

“He was a kind and generous spirit who was a husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather,” the website reported, quoting from a statement released by his family. “Robert lived his life as a sign artist and gospel singer. His voice touched many and his spirit motivated more.”

Family members said they had no idea who would want to hurt him. Nothing was stolen from his apartment.

A vigil was held at Faithful Central Bible Church in Inglewood to celebrate the life of Robert “Mr. Bojangles” Hollis, according to the Los Angeles Sentinel.

“Poignantly weaved throughout the vigil were recordings of the melodic singing voice of Robert Hollis, each song helping to tell the story of how he lived,” the Sentinel reported June 25, 2015.

Hollis was a four-year member of the Men of Faith Choir. He was 80% blind, the Sentinel reported.

The City of Inglewood took the “unusual step of offering $50,000 for tips that would lead to an arrest,” a CBSnews.com article from January of 2016 stated.