For calling his roommate’s girlfriend a “fatso,” a 70-year-old man was beaten to death before his remains were hidden beneath a pile of laundry, according to Minnesota authorities.
Luxury Handbag Shopping reviewed the criminal complaint against Brandon Rose, 49. It alleges Rose went ballistic on his roommate, William Canty, Jr., after the elderly man made the crude comment and giggled.
“Anyone who calls another [h]uman being a fatso and giggles … is not a human,” Rose allegedly texted his girlfriend hours before Canty would breathe his last. After killing his roommate, police allege Rose tried but failed to end his own life.
Rose allegedly called his girlfriend on Sunday, January 4, after he beat Canty to death, to tell her about the murder and his alleged suicide attempt.
“Dead man walking,” Rose is alleged to have said during the call. Rose hung up on the woman but called her back, trying to claim that the elderly man was still alive and well. The woman then called police, fearing that Rose would make a second attempt on his life.
Police have formally charged Rose with second-degree murder.
In addition to finding Canty’s body under dirty laundry, investigators located a bloody shower and a blood-stained bathrobe belt tie hanging from the bathroom’s towel rack.
Rose was found in his bedroom unconscious, “with a needle stuck in his arm,” according to the complaint. “Officers noticed that several small couches were overturned and that a syringe with a blue substance was near [Rose].” Police now say that substance was methylene blue, a synthetic dye.
Thanks to Narcan, Rose came to and allegedly told first responders treating him Canty had “sexually propositioned him” before the killing.
Speaking to police, Rose’s girlfriend confirmed he had accused Canty of making sexual advances toward him.
“[Rose] told her that during the evening of Dec. 31, 2025, [Canty] had entered his room, intoxicated, and asked [Rose] if he had ever had sex with a male,” the complaint says. “[Rose] told the [girlfriend] that he planned on forgetting the incident and acting as though it had never happened.”
The girlfriend said that Rose told her that Canty called her “fatso” in addition to other names and said that Rose did “the worst thing possible” in response. Rose allegedly admitted to police that he fought with Canty prior to the fatal beating.
“All I can say is that he came into my room,” Rose allegedly told investigators. “[Rose] later referenced [Canty] being in his room and touching him,” the complaint concludes.
An autopsy showed that Canty sustained “numerous fractures” to his front, back and side ribs. His clavicle was also broken, as were the interior bones of his neck. Canty also suffered from severe brain bleeding, medical examiners observed.
Rose is being held without bond. He has not been asked to plead to the charge he faces, and it was unclear when he might be arraigned.
Luxury Handbag Shopping could find no attorney of record listed for Rose.
