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A Milwaukee man has been charged in the death of 45-year-old Tzegai Hinson, whose body was found inside a garbage cart on the city's north side last month.

The suspect, 42-year-old Demarius Cage, also was charged with illegally possessing a firearm, heroin and marijuana. If convicted, Cage faces a maximum potential sentence of life in prison.

Hinson's body was discovered on June 11 in the 2400 block of N. 5th St. after a resident flagged down an officer to report a foul odor coming from a duct-taped garbage cart.

According to the criminal complaint:

Hinson, who was from Georgia, told his brother that after dropping off his daughter in Chicago, he would stop in Milwaukee to meet with someone from California who owed him money.

Police determined Hinson's last phone contact was with a number identified as Cage's.

Investigators also determined the garbage cart where Hinson's body was found had been purchased from Home Depot on N. Port Washington Road on June 6. Store records showed bleach, rubber gloves and an automotive jack also were purchased at the same time, according to police.

Store security video showed the people who made the purchase leaving in a silver SUV, which police linked to a third man. That man told police he had dropped off Cage, whom he identified as his drug dealer, at Home Depot and then given him a ride back from the store.

When police went to Cage's house to question him, they found marijuana, cocaine and heroin, as well as a gun, the complaint says. The gun's owner, who had a prior relationship with Cage, told police that Cage had access to the gun but did not have her permission to take it.

Cage was convicted of a felony drug charge in 2007 and was barred from possessing a firearm.

Cage's preliminary hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on July 12. Cage's bail was set for $500,000.