Hit country music songwriter arrested after roommate found dead
Last Updated: Monday, April 28, 2008 | 4:29 PM ET
CBC News
Nashville police have arrested and charged country music songwriter Richard William Fagan in the stabbing death of his roommate.
Police announced on Monday that the 61-year-old songwriter has been charged with criminal homicide in the killing of Gaetano Thomas Oteri, who was also Fagan's manager and music publisher.
The 69-year-old victim, who died Saturday night, was the father of actress and former Saturday Night Live cast member Cheri Oteri.
According to police, Fagan was arrested late Saturday night and charged with driving under the influence, for which he posted bail on Sunday.
However, in the meantime, a mutual friend of both men reported to authorities that Oteri was not answering his door and that the south Nashville residence appeared to be in disarray. The individual said the two roommates had a fight earlier.
Emergency medical technicians later found Oteri's body in the house. Fagan was with a bail bondsman when detectives tracked him down.
Fagan's credits include co-writing songs by country star John Michael Montgomery, including the chart-toppers Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident), Be My Baby Tonight and I Miss You a Little.
Canadian country singer Shania Twain’s version of Fagan’s Crime of the Century was featured on the soundtrack of the Nicolas Cage thriller Red Rock West in 1993.
With files from the Associated PressShare Tools
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