March 20, 2019 - 1:28 PM
A Florida man has been charged with bludgeoning to death a sleeping crew member aboard a fishing vessel in the Gulf of Mexico.
Federal authorities said Wednesday that Casey Hickok was arrested on a charge of second-degree murder.
According to a complaint, the captain of the "No Bitchin" vessel radioed for help Monday for a "domestic dispute."
A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter and vessel responded to the boat located about 65 miles (about 100 kilometres) west of Marco Island, Florida.
Coast Guard crew members found a crew member dead with head injuries. Authorities say Hickok told a U.S. Coast Guard crew member that the victim had raped him in the past. It wasn't immediately known if Hickok has an attorney.
A U.S. Attorney spokesman provided no further information.
News from © The Associated Press, 2019