Man indicted for murder of roommate

CORNING - A Perry County man has been indicted on charges of first-degree murder and second-degree assault in the death of his roommate.

Robert L. Stanley Jr., 42, of Corning, is accused of beating to death 54-year-old Jeffery M. Patton on Sept. 2, 2015.

"The Perry County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call in regards to an unresponsive male located on North Valley Street in Corning,"  Sheriff William Barker said Monday. "Detectives arrived at the scene to find Patton lying in the front yard with visible injuries to the head and arms."

Barker said Patton was taken to Genesis HealthCare in Zanesville with serious head trauma. He was later pronounced dead.

"We learned there had been an altercation between Patton and Stanley at the residence," Barker said. "Evidence showed that Stanley assaulted Patton and the injuries caused by Stanley led to Patton's death."

Barker said the motive, the relationship between the two men or any further details could not be released at this time, per the prosecutor's request.

"All I can say is that both men lived at the same address," Barker said.

Stanley is incarcerated in the Noble Correctional Institution on unrelated charges. If convicted on both counts, he faces 15 years to life.

Court records indicate Stanley has an extensive criminal history in Perry County and surrounding counties. Charges and convictions include domestic violence, assault, drug paraphernalia and driving under the influence.

cschultz3@gannett.com

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