A Pennsylvania psychiatric patient is accused of strangling his 25-year-old roommate in a state-run institution over the weekend.
Officials at Norristown State Hospital learned there was a problem when Kyle Samuels-Robey, 34, asked nurses for ice because he hurt his hand beating and choking Jacob Gonzalez Sunday night, according to the Daily Voice.
Minutes earlier, a hospital security good reportedly saw both men lying on their beds and told Gonzales it was time for him to retrieve his medication.
When they checked on the victim again, after Samuel-Robey reported his injuries, authorities said Gonzales was unresponsive and slumped in his bed. He was taken to Jefferson Einstein Montgomery Hospital and pronounced dead.
An autopsy reportedly confirmed Gonzales died from asphyxiation due to compression of the neck.
Samuel-Robey told hospital workers the conflict occurred after Gonzales tossed out books belonging to the suspect. He’s been charged with first-degree murder and is due in court July 25.
