CAPITOL HEIGHTS, Md. — A Washington, DC man has been arrested in connection with the February beating death of his roommate in a Capitol Heights home, Prince George’s County Police said Tuesday.
Ricardo Cortez O’Neal, 33, was taken into custody Monday and charged with second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter for the killing of 49-year-old Jamil Offutt, who died after a reported physical dispute between tenants in the home they shared.
Officers responded on February 13 to the 6900 block of Valley Park Road for a call about a fight. Upon arrival, they found Offutt unconscious and suffering from trauma in the basement. He was transported to a hospital, where he died nine days later, on February 22.
Following an autopsy, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled Offutt’s death a homicide caused by blunt force trauma.
Detectives with the Prince George’s County Police Homicide Unit continued investigating the incident for several months before arresting O’Neal on July 29. Authorities did not say what led to the delay in the arrest.
O’Neal is being held without bond at the Department of Corrections.
