Rolla Man Charged With Murder In Roommates Death:

Frank James Colvin

A man fom Rolla has been charged with second-degree murder for allegedly killing his roommate.

Phelps County Sheriffs Deputy John Scott responded to a 9-1-1 call shortly before 3 a.m. on May 16th and found Frank James Colvin, 32, straddling the body of 50 year-old Delrae Bryan Wiench.

Colvin met Wiench through his cousin, who is one of Wiench's girlfriends, and moved into the man's home in January to help him because he was suffering from numerous health problems.

Investigators allege that a verbal altercation between the two men began late Saturday night and became physical in the early morning hours of Sunday the 16th when Colvin grabbed Wiench by the throat and punched him in the face, knocking him to the ground.

According to the probable cause statement, Colvin told dispatchers that Wiench had fallen and struck his head on a bedpost. When deputy John Scott arrived at the scene he found Colvin "straddling the victim in his bedroom, his hand near Wiench's head, neck or chest." Investigators say that Colvin "stepped on Wiench's chest hard enough to leave a footprint."

An autopsy is being performed on Wiench in St. Louis.

Colvin is being held in the Phelps County jail on $500,000 bond.