STATE POLICE INVESTIGATE MURDER AT STATE HOSPITAL

(JESSUP, MD) – Maryland State Police are charging a patient at a state hospital in Howard County tonight in connection with the murder of his roommate that occurred this afternoon.  

The victim is identified as David Rico-Noyola, 22, formerly from Anne Arundel County, who was a patient at the Clifton T. Perkins Hospital in Jessup, Md.  He was pronounced dead by an emergency room doctor.  His body will be taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore for an autopsy.  

The suspect is identified as Vitaly Davydov, 24, formerly of Montgomery County, who is a patient at the Clifton T. Perkins Hospital in Jessup.  After consultation with the Howard County State’s Attorney’s Office, Davydov is being charged tonight with first degree murder and second degree murder.  He is currently in police custody and will be taken later tonight to the Howard County Detention Center for his initial appearance before a court commissioner.  

The preliminary investigation by the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit has revealed that shortly before 2:30 p.m. today, Davydov came out of the room he shared with Rico-Noyola on a maximum security wing and asked a security officer for assistance.  The officer and hospital staff investigated further and found the victim on the floor of the room.  They saw he had sustained trauma to his body and head and was bleeding.  Davydov was detained by hospital police and emergency personnel were summoned.

A nurse had checked the room occupied by the victim and suspect less than 30 minutes before the victim was found assaulted.  Both had been in the room at that time and nothing unusual was observed.  

A motive for the murder has not been established at this time.  The investigation is continuing.