Suspicious Death Ruled a Homicide After Autopsy

Authorities have determined that the man found deceased in his M Street apartment early Friday morning died as the result of "multiple blunt impact injuries to his head."

Assistant Attorney General Peter Hinckley said in a release that the victim has been identified as Robert Roderick, 56, of Hampton.

Roderick's death has been ruled a homicide, according to Hinckley, who said the investigation is ongoing.

Authorities reportedly have a man in custody in connection to the investigation, although Hinckley declined comment about that possibility when approached at the Hampton police station Friday afternoon. 

Hinckley couldn't be reached for additional comment Friday night.

Hampton police responded to 19 M St. in Hampton around 12:30 a.m. Friday and found an adult man dead inside.

The AG's office hasn't released the address where the man was found, but the police investigation was centered around 19 M. St. on Friday morning. Hampton and state police cruisers and the state police Major Crime Unit vehicle were at the scene.

Nicole Belanger, who lives next door at 21 M St., said her boyfriend is roommates with the man who was found dead. She said she and her boyfriend discovered the body and called 911 shortly after midnight Friday.

Belanger said her boyfriend tried to get into the apartment around 5:30 p.m. Thursday, but it was locked, which she said was unusual. They left, and returned later in the evening and gained access to the apartment through a window.

She said she and her boyfriend originally thought the roommate was sleeping on the couch as he often did, but after a while went to check on him and discovered that he was not breathing and that his head was covered with a bloody white shirt.

"We've been up all night," she said.

Belanger said the roommate was in his 50s. He was originally from Massachusetts, but had lived in the apartment for about a year.

"He was a great person. He got along with everybody," she said. "That's what I don't understand."