Franklin Murrell Rogers, 48

Franklin Murrell Rogers, a 48-year-old white man, was found dead Friday, July 8, in the 1100 block of Waterloo Street in Echo Park, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

Shortly before noon, Rogers was strangled at a sober living home, police said. Rogers was pronounced dead at 11:47 a.m. at the scene, according to coroner’s records.

Nicholas James Bowling, a 28-year-old white man, was arrested on suspicion of murder in the slaying. Bowling and Rogers were romantically involved, police said.

Bowling pleaded not guilty to one count of murder July 12, according to court records.

Friends mourned Rogers’ violent death.

“He was a loving, gentle and kind soul,” Thomas Harris told KTLA-TV. “I know that most people would be grateful for the experience of his friendship.”

Bowling has a criminal history with several arrests, including a February 2012 arrest on suspicion of domestic violence, according to jail records. He also pleaded guilty to a count of drug possession in 2012.

In August 2012, Bowling, then 25, stole a Los Angeles Police Department cruiser and crashed it into a light pole and a Starbucks near the intersection of La Brea Avenue and San Vicente Boulevard.

The collision totaled the police car and damaged a wall of windows at the Starbucks. Bowling was critically injured in the crash and later lost both legs.

Months after the crash, he pleaded no contest to stealing a law enforcement vehicle and was sentenced to five years of formal probation, according to court records.

Contact the Homicide Report. Follow @latimeshomicide on Twitter.