NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A man was beaten to death after catching his wife's lover living in a closet in their home, police said Tuesday.
Rafael DeJesus Rocha-Perez (search), 35, was charged with homicide in the slaying of 44-year-old Jeffrey A. Freeman (search) over the weekend.
"From time to time, you come across a case with very unique — even bizarre — circumstances," police spokesman Don Aaron said. "This one probably rates right up there with them."
Freeman's wife had allowed Rocha-Perez to live in a closet of the Freemans' four-bedroom home for about a month without her husband's knowledge, police said. On Sunday, her husband heard Rocha-Perez snoring and discovered him, authorities said.
Freeman ordered his wife to get the man out of the house while he went for a walk, authorities said. Martha Freeman (search) told authorities that when her husband returned, Rocha-Perez confronted him with a shotgun, forced him into a bathroom and bludgeoned him.
The Freemans were co-owners of a company that does background checks for apartment rental and job applicants.
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