Philadelphia man charged with killing brother inside A.C. casino hotel room

A Philadelphia man has been arrested in the killing of his brother inside a bloody Atlantic City casino hotel room.
John Villante, 38, is charged with murder in the death of his 32-year-old brother, Joseph Villante, who suffered multiple injuries inside the 11th-floor room at Harrah’s Atlantic City.

Suspicious death at Atlantic City casino under investigation

A death inside a hotel room at Harrah’s Atlantic City is being investigated as suspicious, the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office has confirmed.The Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit along with the Atlantic City police are investigating the death Tuesday night ... Read more

Hotel security was called at about 3:10 p.m. Tuesday for a medical emergency, Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon Tyner said.
The man was taken to the AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center’s City Campus, where he was pronounced dead.
Atlantic City police were called to the scene shortly after 4 p.m., and found "significant amounts of blood" in the room and on the suspect, according to the affidavit.
John Villante had a swollen right hand and injuries to his hands and elbow, according to the statement by the lead detective, Natasha Alvarado.
He told police that he and his brother were alone in the room — which was registered to an unnamed woman — when he heard a loud noise from the bathroom, the affidavit reads. He claimed that any injuries or blood on him were from helping his younger brother.
But there was no blood in the bathroom, the affidavit said.
The call first came through as a possible suicide, according to a report by Atlantic City police obtained by BreakingAC. But the injuries to the victim did not appear to be self-inflicted.
The younger Villante's multiple injuries included blunt-force trauma, neck compression, defensive wounds to his hands and superficial stab wounds to his neck, according to the autopsy.
The Villantes and a woman were staying in the room, which was registered to the unnamed woman.
But only the brothers were inside at the time of the fatal attack, according to video surveillance, witness statements and other investigation found.
An autopsy ruled the cause of death to be multiple injuries, including blunt-force injuries to the head.
The death was ruled a homicide.
Villante was arrested Thursday without incident in Philadelphia with the help of the Philadelphia Police Homicide Fugitive Squad and Philadelphia Highway Patrol, Tyner said.
He is currently lodged within the Philadelphia Prison System awaiting extradition.