An 18-year-old Pennsylvania man, Brian Deante Gray, has been arrested and charged with criminal homicide following the death of a 68-year-old man, according to the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office. The victim, identified as Michael Pfender, was found dead in a garage at a residence on North Duke Street in Manheim Township.
The local police department was alerted to an unspecified incident at the residence around 6:30 a.m. The caller, who remained vague about the details, reported an accident within the home. Upon arrival, officers were directed to the detached garage by a witness who claimed, “My son killed my roommate.”
Inside the garage, officers discovered Pfender’s lifeless body, bearing visible injuries to his face and head. Another witness informed the police that Pfender had been living in the garage and had been socializing with a group, including Gray, earlier in the evening. The witness stated that Gray had become agitated following a comment from Pfender that he deemed disrespectful.
According to Penn Live, a roommate was playing video games around 4 a.m. when Gray knocked on his door, informing him that Pfender was not breathing. Gray later confessed to another roommate, “I killed Mike,” and suggested various implausible plans to dispose of Pfender’s body. The roommates, however, decided to call 911.
The Lancaster County Coroner’s Office confirmed the cause of death as multiple traumatic injuries, ruling the incident a homicide. Pfender also had a defensive wound on his right hand, indicating a struggle. Gray surrendered himself to the Lancaster City police station later that day and is currently being held without bail at the Lancaster County Prison. His next court hearing is set for December 18.