Kyle Samuels-Robey, 34, allegedly "choked out" Jacob Gonzales, 25 for throwing his books
Reportedly telling nurses he needed ice for his hands, one patient at Norristown State Hospital relayed that he’d “beat up” and “choked out” his roommate because he had thrown his books. Upon observing “visible swelling and redness” on his hands, the nurses went to the patient’s room 1120 and observed the roommate “slumped over his bed and nonresponsive,” according to police reports. He was later pronounced dead at Jefferson Einstein Montgomery Hospital.
Kyle Samuels-Robey, 34, a resident of Norristown State Hospital, is charged with first- and third-degree murder after Pennsylvania State Police of Troop K, Skippack were called by hospital staff to the state hospital around 9:45 p.m. on Sunday, July 14. A patient, Jacob Gonzales, 25, was reportedly being transported from building 10 to Einstein.
Staff reported to police that they “became aware of the incident when Samuels-Robey came to them and asked for ice for his hand.” Samuels-Robey said that he’d “choked out” another patient, police reports said. Staff reported to the room shared between Gonzales and Samuels-Robey to find Gonzales not breathing, police said. The nurses “called code” and began CPR. Einstein told police by telephone that Gonzales had been pronounced deceased as they were enroute to the victim, said reports.
Police interviewed hospital staff who said Gonzales was “suffering from swelling inside his throat, his face was swollen, and his eyes were protruding and bloodshot.” Despite life-saving measures of hospital staff, Gonzales was pronounced dead at 10:45 p.m.
Samuels-Robey suffered swollen and bruised knuckles, police said, “consistent with striking something with a closed fist.”
Following an autopsy of Gonzales, Dr. Marianne Hamel, a forensic pathologist, determined that cause of death was asphyxiation due to neck compression and that the manner of death was homicide, said police reports.
According to a press release from Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele, Samuels-Robey was arrested on charges of first- and third-degree murder following a joint investigation by the PSP and Montgomery County Detectives.
Samuels-Robey was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Todd Stephens, and no bail is available for first-degree murder charges. Samuels-Robey was remanded to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility awaiting a preliminary hearing slated for 10 a.m. on July 25 before Magisterial District Judge Denise Ashe, said the release.
