Melissa Patterson in district court Former hospice chief pleads not guilty to capital murder
Tue, 2016-03-15 21:59
News Staff
By G. Romero Wendorf
With Criminal Defense Attorney Ricardo “Ric” Salinas standing by her side in state district court last Thursday, former hospice administrator Monica Melissa Patterson, 48, pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of 96-year-old WWII vet Martin (Marty) Knell inside his northside McAllen home the morning of Jan. 28, 2015.
According to the opinion of the medical examiner who performed the autopsy, Knell was the victim of “homicide by asphyxia.” The autopsy report also reportedly indicates he was suffocated with a plastic bag and suffered blunt-force trauma, which included contusions to the neck clavicle, chest, head, and back. Several of his ribs were also fractured.