A South Florida man was arrested after police say he killed his roommate with a lethal milkshake last week.
Indian River County deputies arrested Timothy Gochenour, 41, on Friday after they discovered the body of his roommate, Michael Gray, in a bedroom of their shared Vero Beach, Fla., home. Detectives told WPTV that Gray, 51, had died after ingesting a milkshake laced with a toxic amount of prescription drugs.
Deputies arrived at the home Friday morning to check on Gray, 51, after his wife, who was out of town, told police she had not heard from her husband in several days.
When officers arrived, Gochenour lied and told them that Gray was at a bar. Then, police said Gochenour blurted something that made them very suspicious.
“[The deputies] asked if they could take a look inside,” Sheriff Deryl Loar told WPBF. “Gochenour made a spontaneous statement that said, 'Well, if you come in you might as well arrest me.'”
Deputies checked the home and discovered Gray's body wrapped in blankets in a bedroom. When interviewed by police, Gochenour said he'd given his roommate a milkshake with a large quantity of prescription medications with the intention of killing him after the men had an argument about rent and privacy, according to the station.
The suspect, who is a convicted felon, was found in possession of a firearm and arrested on weapons charges, according to CBS 12 News. Homicide charges are pending.
According to WPTV, Gochenour has a criminal history that includes charges for burglary and child sex abuse. He was sentenced to three years in prison and six years probation for unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, and has been in and out of jail since then.
Friends described the victim as a kind man who had helped look out for the homeless. Kathryn Chinn, whom Gray had previously helped, told WPBF that she introduced Gochenour, who had been homeless, to Gray with the hope that he'd be able to turn his life around.
“I really thought [Gochenour] was going to change, but he didn’t... I’m devastated. I never thought Timothy would go this far,” Chinn told the station. “Everyone called him Satan or Bamma. They called him the devil. Death. He was heavy into a lot of horrid, evil things.”
Chinn said she will never forgive herself for introducing the men. The suspect had lived with the victim and his wife for several months prior to the murder. Neighbors told WPTV that they would hear arguing coming from the house regularly.
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