Man Sentenced In Roommate's Hammer Beating Death

BALTIMORE, Md. (WJZ) -- A Baltimore man who beat his roommate to death with a hammer and then set his body on fire has been sentenced to 34.5 years in prison, authorities said.

Lawrence Coverdale, 45, of Shamrock Avenue, received the maximum sentence for the murder of Nathaniel Quarterman, according to the State's Attorney's Office. He was found guilty in February of second-degree murder, intent to injure with a deadly weapon and malicious burning of personal property.

Quarterman's burning remains were found by police investigating a reported fire in the 4200 block of Shamrock Avenue on August 22, 2014. Officers tracked drag marks from the remains to a nearby apartment where they noticed blood dripping from the balcony and found signs of a struggle inside. Coverdale and a woman present at the apartment were taken into custody for questioning.

The woman told investigators she overheard Coverdale and Quarterman causing a commotion in a back room when, at some point, the room fell silent. When Coverdale returned, she said, he choked her and threatened to kill her if she didn't keep quiet. Then he went outside to ditch Quarterman's body. During questioning, Coverdale acknowledged killing the victim, saying he didn't mean to do it but his anger got the best of him.

An autopsy found Quarterman's skull had been fractured by repeated blows from a hammer. He also had several broken ribs. Based on those findings, it was determined that he died before being set on fire.