Carrick man gets at least 14 years in prison for killing Point Park University voice instructor

A Carrick man was ordered to serve 14 to 28 years in prison on Tuesday for killing his roommate, a voice instructor at Point Park University, two years ago.

Joseph Martin, 37, pleaded guilty but mentally ill in June for the stabbing death of Ricardo Tobia, 71.

Tobia’s body was found in their home in the 500 block of Kirk Avenue on July 7, 2018, after Martin’s sister called police to check on the man.

Tobia was found dead in a back bedroom from multiple stab wounds that nearly decapitated him. An autopsy showed that in addition to multiple stab wounds to the torso and neck, Tobia sustained a laceration wound of the abdomen and a gunshot wound to the head, according to the criminal complaint in the case.

Officers also found Tobia’s dog dead with its throat cut and a gunshot wound to the head.

Investigators also found a sword and knife with dried blood on them near Tobia’s body and all four walls and the ceiling in the room where Tobia was killed were splattered with blood and blood smears were discovered in the hallway, dining room, bathroom, kitchen and entrance to home’s basement, according to the complaint.

Martin’s mother, Margaret Martin, told police her son had a history of mental illness, and that between July 3 and 5, he had been in a “catatonic, non lucid, unresponsive” state, according to the complaint.

When she arrived to her home on July 5, she found her son there, wearing filthy pants and sweating profusely. Prosecutors said he had two knives with him.

Martin was taken to Jefferson Hospital, where he was admitted to the psychiatric unit. The next day, he told his mother he’d been having nightmares and that he may have hurt Tobia.

She then called her daughter to have police check on him.

At the sentencing hearing before Common Pleas Judge Alexander P. Bicket on Tuesday, the prosecution sought a sentence of 20 to 40 years in prison.