Man accused of killing roommate at Mount Sinai Medical Center to remain behind bars

Andre Brown, 23, accused of beating, choking victim to death

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. ā€“ A man accused of killing his roommate over the weekend at Mount Sinai Medical Center faced a judge Monday and was ordered to be held in jail without bond.

Andre Brown, 23, was arrested Sunday morning on a second-degree murder charge.

Police said Brown claimed that his roommate in the hospital's psychiatric health unit, Alejandro Ortega, 55, tried to touch his privates Saturday, so he struck and choked Ortega.

According to an arrest report, Brown told detectives that he and the victim were talking when he got up to use the bathroom. He said Ortega walked in on him in the bathroom and touched his private area, so he struck Ortega more than 20 times.

When officers arrived, they found Ortega lying on his back on the bathroom floor, bleeding from the head. Blood was also splattered on the bathroom walls.

"This is a tragic incident that took place within the confines of our psychiatric health unit. Our deepest sympathies are with the deceased's family and friends," Joanna Palmer, a spokeswoman for the hospital, said in a statement. "The safety and well-being of our patients is our top priority. We continue to work with authorities in their ongoing investigation."


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Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.