Crime

Kentucky man calls 911 after choking out, killing his roommate, arrest citation says

According to court records, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office has charged a 50-year-old man with murder in connection to his roommate’s death.
According to court records, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office has charged a 50-year-old man with murder in connection to his roommate’s death. Getty Images/iStockphoto

A man from Lincoln County has been charged with murder after he allegedly choked his roommate to death, according to court documents.

Tuesday evening, deputies with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to Crawford Lane in Stanford after receiving a call from 50-year-old Joseph Nutgrass saying his roommate is unresponsive.

Court documents indicate Nutgrass allegedly told a 911 dispatcher he and his roommate, Ricky Patterson, got into an argument and Patterson tried to break his leg, so Nutgrass responded by trying to choke him out.

Nutgrass attempted CPR on Patterson before emergency crews arrived, according to court documents. Paramedics also tried CPR, but the efforts were unsuccessful and Patterson was declared dead on scene.

BEHIND THE STORY

MORE

How criminal charges work

Suspects are charged by law enforcement based on initial allegations and evidence that have not yet been proven in court or through jury trial.

Nutgrass told deputies Patterson ate some pills and “went out,” according to court documents. He also said he put Patterson in a “full nelson” and “body triangle” and denied choking him.

Nutgrass has been charged with murder, according to court records.

Both Nutgrass and Patterson appeared to have been drinking alcohol the night of the incident, court documents say. Patterson’s body is scheduled to undergo an autopsy.

Related Stories from Lexington Herald Leader
Christopher Leach
Lexington Herald-Leader
Chris Leach is a breaking news reporter for the Lexington Herald-Leader. He joined the newspaper in September 2021 after previously working with the Anderson News and the Cats Pause. Chris graduated from UK in December 2018. Support my work with a digital subscription
Get one year of unlimited digital access for $159.99
#ReadLocal

Only 44¢ per day

SUBSCRIBE NOW