A Penn State student was found dead yesterday in the bloody kitchen of a borough residence
days after what police said was a "scuffle" in the home of a State College man, who has been charged with the first- and third-degree murder of the student.

Andrew A. Rogers, 28, of 224 Nimitz Ave., where the body was found, was charged with the homicide of Youngcheol Park, 24, after Rogers walked into the Uniontown Police Department and told officers, "I think there may be a body in my kitchen."

At a press conference yesterday, State College Police Department Chief Tom King said police forced entry into Rogers' house early yesterday morning -- where they observed blood on the walls from outside the house -- after Uniontown contacted them.

This is the second homicide in the borough in less than two weeks. Another Penn State student was fatally stabbed Feb. 17 at Club Love, 129 1/2 S. Pugh St.

Police, who said they believe the incident occurred late Thursday or early Friday, said they found Park's decomposing body face-up in the kitchen with multiple injuries to the face and head. There was a bloody baseball bat and bloody clothing found near Park's body.

"There was blood all throughout the home and an indication of a struggle in the house," King said. "This was a messy scene."

In Rogers' statement, he said that shortly after he, Park and another friend, known only as "Sweet," were in Rogers' house together, a fight broke out. Rogers found "Sweet" looking through cash that was lying nearby, and Rogers confronted him about it, according to the criminal complaint.

Rogers said he put a chokehold on Park, punched him, placed a garbage bag over his head and struck him several times with a rolling pin that had been between the couch cushions. According to the criminal complaint, Rogers then took a bottle from Park's hand and struck him two times with it, causing Park to go "relaxed."

Rogers' statement said Park pulled out a gun from a backpack, and Rogers struck the victim on the arms with a baseball bat, making Park drop the gun. Park continuously tried to reach for the gun as Rogers struck him in the face and the body several more times. Rogers said he also struck "Sweet" several times with the baseball bat.

Rogers said he then observed "Sweet" pulling small white bags of cocaine from Park's backpack.

Rogers said "Sweet" picked up the gun and pointed it at him. At that point, Rogers covered his own head and said he had no more recollection of the incident until he woke up later.

The gun that Rogers reported was involved in the incident has not been located, King said. King said that according to Rogers, the gun is a short, silver or chrome handgun.

Rogers said he woke up on Park's body and checked Park's throat but did not get a pulse. Rogers ripped the bloody clothes off himself; then he washed himself in the sink, packed a suitcase, took Park's wallet from his pocket and left

State College, according to the criminal complaint.

State College police said a white Hyundai Santa Fe was present at the crime scene, which they identified as Park's. His name was checked in State College police records, which provided a cell phone number. The number was called, and it rang in the victim's pocket.

Centre County District Attorney Michael Madeira said yesterday that Rogers' statement is only the starting point of all the evidence in the investigation.

"Clearly his statement brought the scene to our attention, but it is a significant scene, and it will take whatever length of time for the officers to look at all the forensic evidence," he said. "We aren't going to make a judgment simply on what the defendant himself tells us."

King said the detectives are continuing to work through the crime scene along with the Pennsylvania State Police crime lab to look for any forensics evidence and direct evidence.

"The scene is still being processed; it began in the early morning hours [yesterday] and will continue until it is done," King said.

Madeira said he is seeking first- and third-degree murder charges because of the condition of the body and the crime scene.

"In areas where the evidence doesn't match with what the defendant tells us, that's where we make the decision where third-degree murder charges may not be enough," Madeira said.

Police said they know very little about "Sweet," other than Park and Rogers both knew who he was and had a social relationship with him. Rogers described him as a white man with a dark or olive complexion, in his early to mid-20s, 5 feet 8 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall, with brown neatly trimmed hair and sideburns. He may have significant injuries to his torso, police added.

"We believe 'Sweet' can be very helpful in providing additional information about the defendant's and everybody else's actions," King said.

Anyone who knows the identity of "Sweet" is urged to call the State College police at 234-7150 or anonymously at 1-877-898-3784.

Rogers was arraigned before a Fayette County Court of Common Pleas Judge. State College police detectives traveled to Uniontown, took custody of Rogers and transported him to Centre County, where District Judge Allen Sinclair advised him of the charges.

An autopsy to confirm Park's cause of death is scheduled for this morning at Mount Nittany Medical Center.

Rogers is being held at the Centre County Prison without bail. His preliminary hearing is set for 9 a.m. March 9 at the Centre County Courthouse.

King said that although this has been the second homicide within a month, State College residents should not fear their safety.

"It is important to remember that there is no indication at this stage that this is a stranger murder or assault; they were voluntarily together that evening," King said. "Both of these murders occurred indoors, where people weren't walking down the street and were attacked by a stranger hiding behind a bush."