A 25-year-old city man waived his right to a preliminary hearing Tuesday on charges related to the strangulation death of his 31-year-old girlfriend in Lebanon earlier this month.
Nathan Patrick made a brief appearance before District Judge Maria Dissinger before he was returned to the Lebanon County prison to await trial. He is being held without bail on charges of criminal homicide and aggravated assault.
Patrick is being represented by the Lebanon County public defender's office.
Police charged Patrick with killing Jennie Cassel in the home they shared at 204 S. Ninth St., Lebanon.
More than a half dozen of Patrick's relatives and friends filled the small hearing room at Dissinger's office along State Drive.
City police went to the home on Jan. 3 after receiving a call that a medical crew found Cassel's body on the living room couch. Police said they believe Cassel was strangled sometime after midnight on Jan 1.
One of Patrick's relatives told police that Patrick had called him and admitted to strangling Cassel during an argument.
Police tracked down Patrick in a vehicle near Route 72 and I-81 in Lickdale, and he was detained by state police.
Investigators obtained a search warrant for Patrick's cellphone and found a video in which he admitted killing Cassel, according to the police affidavit.
Patrick's apprehension by state police troopers on Jan. 3 took place while city police officers were still at the home he had shared with Cassel.
Police said the couple had previously lived in the Grantville area and recently moved to Lebanon.
Patrick's formal arraignment in Lebanon County Common Pleas Court is set for March 7. His trial has been scheduled for May.
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