CONEWAGO TWP., Pa. - An Adams County man is behind bars, charged in the apparent beating death of his roommate. Walter Mark Smith, Jr., 44, of Conewago Township, was arrested early Sunday morning. He's charged with Criminal Homicide and Aggravated Assault in the death of 42-year old Mitchell Robert Jones.
According to the criminal complaint, the two men, who lived together at 26-B Chapel Road, Hanover, had allegedly been drinking and smoking crack while partying Saturday night. The two got into a fight and Jones was beaten to death.
After the fight, Smith drove to a friend's home in New Oxford. He told the friend and his wife that he and Mitch "had been partying together" and that Jones "hit him with a chair and knocked him down." He then stated that he "beat him to death."
The friend and his wife then drove to Smith's apartment and found Jones' body. They then notified police. Police arrived on the scene and confirmed that Jones was dead in an upstairs bedroom with a black plastic garbage bag covering his head. There were also evident signs of a struggle and a large amount of blood in the bedroom.
Smith was immediately taken into custody. He is behind bars at the Adams County Correctional Facility and was denied bail.