81-Year-Old Man Kills 94-Year-Old Roommate in Rehab, Say Calif. Prosecutors

SANTA ANA, Calif. (CBS/AP) William McDougall was recovering from hip surgery in a California rehabilitation center when he allegedly became so enraged at his 94-year-old roommate's singing in Vietnamese that he bashed his head in with a metal rod, according to Orange County prosecutors, who have charged McDougall with murder.

Police say McDougall, who's 81, took the metal rod from a closet and hit Manh Van Nguyen multiple times in the head before a nurse called for help and McDougall was restrained by staffers.

Nguyen, who was also recovering from hip replacement surgery, was rushed to the hospital and died of blunt force trauma.

Hospital staff told investigators that the two men, who were both residents of Laguna Woods, Calif., had not had any previous altercations or arguments, according to the Orange County Register.

McDougall faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted, and is being held on $1 million bail.

ALSO ON CRIMESIDER