East Hanover Man Choked Friend to Death in Pa., Authorities Say

Charles Derr of East Hanover was arraigned in Pennsylvania Tuesday, June 11 on charges that he killed a friend with a choke hold in July 2012.

The Times-Tribune of Pennsylvania said Derr killed a longtime friend named Matthew Stilwell of Richboro, Pa., with a "rear naked choke hold."

The two men were together at Derr's vacation home in Tobyhanna Township in the early morning hours of July 9, 2012, when they allegedly got into an altercation after what The Times-Tribune called "a booze-fueled" evening.

The fight ended with a wrestling match in which Derr, 52, used a choke hold on Stilwell, 53, until he lost consciousness.

Derr allegedly thought his friend was sleeping. When Stilwell was still unresponsive later that morning, Derr called the police.

According to The Times-Tribune, an autopsy showed Stilwell died of strangulation. Further tests were needed to determine if he was indeed killed by the choke hold.

Derr was charged with criminal homicide by the Pocono Mountain Regional Police Tuesday and was arraigned before Megisterial District Judge Richard Claypool. He is currently incarcerated at Monroe County Correctional Facility without bail, according to The Times-Tribune.