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83-Year-Old Man Who Killed His 94-Year-Old Roomie Gets Probation For Life
William Leo McDougall (Photo Courtesy of Orange County Sheriff's Department)
The 83-year-old man who beat his 94-year-old roommate to death with a closet rod has been put on probation for the rest of his life.
William Leo McDougall was sentenced to 16 years to life in prison for the October 2010 killing in the men's shared room at a Laguna Woods short-term care facility, however Orange County Superior Court Judge Thomas Goethals suspended the prison term and imposed probation, according to City News Service.
Should McDougall, who is confined to a wheelchair and receives round-the-clock care, violate his probation, however, he will be sent to prison to serve out his term.
McDougall pleaded guilty this summer to killing Manh Van Nguyen. The men were in the same room, both recovering from hip surgery, when McDougall became angered by Nguyen singing in Vietnamese. He took the metal rod from the closet in the room and clubbed Nguyen to death.
The victim's son alleged the killing was racially motivated, however that was not proven in court.
Prior to the killing, McDougall lived a crime-free life, according to his attorney.
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