HATBORO, PA – A dispute between neighbors over loud snoring turned deadly when Christopher James Casey, 55, fatally stabbed Robert Wallace, 62, after a verbal altercation at Casey’s home, according to Montgomery County authorities.
Casey, a resident of Hatboro, Pennsylvania, was charged on Thursday with the murder of Wallace that occurred late Sunday. The autopsy performed by the coroner revealed that Wallace suffered multiple stab wounds.
The two had been in an ongoing feud for over a year and a half over Casey’s loud snoring, which Wallace could hear through the walls of their connecting homes. This feud had previously led to several calls to the police.
On the night of the incident, Wallace pulled off a screen from a window in Casey’s home, unlocking and opening the window while Casey was having dinner. This provoked a verbal confrontation, and Casey reportedly responded by stabbing Wallace in his chest with a large, military-style knife.
Contrary to what might be expected in such a violent incident, Wallace was not threatening or menacing Casey when he was stabbed. During an interview with investigators at Abington Hospital, Casey said that Wallace had even suggested burying the hatchet, offering to shake hands and help pay for Casey’s nasal surgery to alleviate his snoring.
However, Casey didn’t trust Wallace’s proposed truce and decided to “surprise him” by stabbing him, according to the police affidavit. Police found a critically injured Wallace approximately 50 feet from his home following a 911 call from Casey. Wallace was taken to a nearby hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Casey, who had accidentally stabbed himself in the leg during the incident, was also taken to the hospital for treatment. As it stands, Casey has been charged with third-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter, and possession of instruments of a crime. His bail has been set at $1 million.