By David Gambacorta
The Philadelphia Daily News
OLD CITY, Pa. — Murder and arson were among the heinous acts that were committed inside an Old City hotel room over the weekend.
Authorities said yesterday that Patrick Michael Brady, 49, of Chester County, was strangled and beaten to death inside his eighth-floor room at the Omni Hotel.
His body was found by firefighters who were called to the building, at 2nd and Chestnut streets, about 10:20 a.m. Saturday for a report of a fire — in Brady’s room.
The fire, which was extinguished in about 15 minutes, was intentionally set, said Fire Department Executive Chief Daniel Williams.
No other guests were injured by the fire, which was limited to Brady’s room, officials said.
Investigators were saying little else about the slaying. The motive was unknown, as was any information about potential suspects.
Brady, 49, who lived in Thorndale, recently worked on an IT project for Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, said hospital spokeswoman Jackie Kozloski.
A news report said he left behind a wife and young daughter. His relatives could not be reached for comment last night.
“We are saddened by his passing,” Kozloski said. “Our hearts and prayers are going out to his family at this time.”
She said she was unsure how long Brady had worked for Jefferson.
Brady had stayed at the Omni several times in the past, said A.J. Williams, the hotel’s general manager.
His slaying, and the subsequent arson that might have been intended to cover it up, rattled the hotel’s staff.
“First and foremost, this is a horrible tragedy for the family,” Williams said.
“It’s certainly been difficult on the hotel and staff, who have never been through anything like this before.”
There had been no reported problems during Brady’s previous stays at the hotel, Williams said, and no complaints that would have suggested that something suspicious had happened in his room before the fire broke out.
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