Elderly man charged with murder of St. Louis nursing home roommate

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. (KTVI) -- An elderly man is in custody for allegedly killing his roommate at a Spanish Lake nursing home, the St. Louis County Police Department said Wednesday.

According to Officer Benjamin Granda, a police spokesman, officers were called to The Estates of Spanish Lake Nursing and Rehabilitation Facility just before 7:10 a.m.

Officers found 69-year-old Larry Harris dead in his bed with head injuries.

A nurse told police she went into Harris' room earlier and noticed that he was not breathing. Harris' roommate, Willie Clemons, told the nurse that he had punched Harris several times.

Granda said Clemons had bloodied hands when he was taken into custody. During a police interrogation, Clemons again admitted to punching Harris several times.

The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office charged Clemons, 73, with second-degree murder. He's being held on $250,000 cash-only bond.