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SALT LAKE CITY — A Murray man was charged Monday with first-degree felony murder for allegedly using a baseball bat to hit and kill another man inside a Salt Lake apartment earlier this month.
Andrew Burke Berry IV, 22, was charged in 3rd District Court in connection with the death of Timothy Houlihan, 39, on Aug. 9. The two acquaintances were inside Houlihan's apartment, 520 S. 500 East, when Berry killed Houlihan, Salt Lake police say.
"Berry told (police) that he struck Mr. Houlihan with a baseball bat and that Mr. Houlihan fell, unconscious, onto the bed," charging documents say. "Berry stated he struck Mr. Houlihan a couple of more times after Mr. Houlihan became unconscious 'just to make sure that he was done.' … Berry estimated that he struck Mr. Houlihan four to five times with a baseball bat."
Last week, a Salt Lake County Jail report filed in Berry's arrest said he told detectives that Houlihan "made sexual advances toward him during the visit."
Berry told police that Houlihan became angry after his advances on Berry were rejected. Berry claimed Houlihan tried to hit him with a baseball bat, but he was able to wrest control of the bat and then hit Houlihan in the head with it.
Berry called 911 to alert police, according to the jail report. He was at the apartment when police arrived.
The Utah State Medical Examiner's Office determined Houlihan died of blunt force trauma, charging documents say. His manner of death was identified as homicide.
Berry is currently being held in the Salt Lake County Jail. Court records indicate Berry's criminal history in Utah is limited, consisting of no prior felony charges.
