Patient at Montco psychiatric facility charged with strangling roommate

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A patient at a state-funded psychiatric facility in Montgomery County has been charged with killing his roommate.

Kyle Samuels-Robey, 34, is accused of strangling his roommate Sunday night. Staff members at Norristown State Hospital checked on Samuels-Robey and his roommate, 25-year-old Jacob Gonzalez, around 9:30 p.m.

Shortly afterward, officials said Samuels-Robey asked for ice for his hand. He said he had “punched” and “choked out” Gonzalez because he threw his books.

Nurses found Gonzalez slumped over in his bed and tried to perform CPR on him. He was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead a short time later.

A medical examiner determined Gonzalez died from asphyxiation.

Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele has charged Samuels-Robey with first- and third-degree murder.