71-Year-Old Illinois Man Arrested After Being Accused Of Killing Man In Nursing Home Over Laundry

William Paschall was arrested and charged with first-degree murder after being accused of beating a man to death in a nursing home

An Illinois man was arrested after being accused of allegedly beating a man to death in a nursing home after a dispute regarding a washing machine.

According to a news release posted by the Joliet Police Department, nursing home resident William Paschall was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and aggravated battery to a person 60 years of age or older. The 71-year-old Joilet man was taken and booked at the Will County Adult Detention Facility.

The alleged incident occurred at the Salem Village Nursing and Rehabilitation on Nov. 17 at 9:25 p.m. Police officers responded to a call that a battery had taken place on the sixth floor of the nursing home. When police arrived, they found an unresponsive 61-year-old man in the nursing home’s laundry room. The facility staff provided him with medical assistance until the Joliet Fire Department paramedics arrived. After attempts to save the victim, he was pronounced dead on the scene by the Will County Coroner’s Office.

Police officials revealed that Paschall allegedly attacked the unnamed victim while both were in the laundry room. Paschall became upset “about the victim’s use of the washing machine.” He reportedly pounced on the 61-year-old, hit him on the head several times, and then used the victim’s walker in the attack. It was reported that the victim fell to the ground, leaving him unresponsive. There was a staff member present who tried to stop the assault. A 911 call was placed to the police officers as nursing home staff members attempted to save the victim.

The Daily Herald reported that Sgt. Dwayne English said, “It is believed that Paschall punched the victim in the head multiple times and used the victim’s walker in the attack, causing the victim to fall to the floor.”

The Will County Coroner’s Office will determine the cause of death.