New London — Police have charged a 29-year-old city man with murder in the death of his roommate, whose body was discovered Christmas morning.

Sebastian Tzampop, of 15 Hope St., Apt. 2, was held in lieu of a $1 million court-set bond after police say he confessed to the crime.

New London police arrested Tzampop Friday for allegedly killing Antonio Chajon, a 39-year-old local restaurant worker whose body was discovered shortly before 11 a.m. on Christmas on the floor of his bedroom with signs of trauma.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Chajon was positively identified on Friday following an autopsy at the state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Farmington. The autopsy revealed the cause of death was the result of a "compression of the neck with blunt injuries of head and trunk," according to New London Police Deputy Chief Peter Reichard. The death was ruled a homicide.

Reichard said it appeared that Chajon was violently assaulted and sustained severe trauma injuries to his head, throat and torso. He declined to provide any more details on what Tzampop said happened.

New London police worked with state police in collecting evidence and interviewing residents of the multifamily home.

Detectives were able to obtain a full confession from Tzampop about his involvement in Chajon's death, Reichard said.

Tzampop is due for arraignment Monday in New London Superior Court.

Chajon and Tzampop are both originally from the same village in Guatemala, according to police.

Chajon had worked at Jasmine Thai Restaurant in New London since he moved to the United States from Guatemala five years ago, co-workers said.

Co-workers said Chajon was a hard worker, smiled a lot and enjoyed partying with his friends.

Tzampop has an arrest history that includes a Sept. 1 arrest on charges of drunken driving and various motor vehicle infractions, court records show.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact the Detective Division of the New London Police Department at (860) 447-1481. All calls will be kept confidential.

g.smith@theday.com