Roommate suspected in killing of patient

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

A roommate is suspected in the fatal beating of a nursing home patient in Cleveland.

Authorities say 69-year-old Daniel Brown was beaten in the face and head two weeks ago and died Wednesday. He went to the long-term care unit at St. Vincent Charity Medical Center after suffering a stroke.

Police say his roommate claimed he had been attacked by Brown, who was partially paralyzed. The death has been ruled a homicide.

The roommate, 41-year-old Rudy Litto of Cleveland, was indicted last week on an attempted murder charge. With the death, police said Friday they will open a homicide investigation.

Litto’s attorney, Daniel Chaplin, says Litto was disoriented while coming out of a 27-day coma and should have been restrained.