Roseville man facing murder charge for allegedly beating housemate to death

ROSEVILLE — A 54-year-old Roseville man is facing a charge of murder for allegedly beating his 72-year-old housemate to death.

At approximately 12:38 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 31, Roseville police officers were dispatched to a report of a physical altercation in progress inside a residence in the 27000 block of Waldorf Street in Roseville, according to a press release from the Roseville Police Department.

Upon arrival, officers found the 72-year-old lying unresponsive on the floor of an upstairs bedroom. As officers rendered aid, other officers took the suspect, whom police and the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office have identified as Mark Newsome, into custody without incident. Newsome was arrested and held at a local hospital, where he was being treated for a preexisting medical condition, according to Roseville police.

An investigation conducted by the Roseville Criminal Investigations Team revealed that the residence is a boarding-style home where people are able to rent individual bedrooms and share a common area, according to the Roseville police press release. Investigators reportedly learned that some of the residents had a verbal argument that escalated into a physical altercation.

A press release from the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office states that Newsome punched the victim, Dale Mitchell, multiple times in the head. The Roseville police press release said that the punches caused “significant damage” to Mitchell’s face and head.

The Roseville Fire Department responded to the scene and determined that Mitchell was deceased, according to the press release. The Prosecutor’s Office said that Mitchell died of his injuries.

Newsome was arraigned Feb. 1 by 39th District Court Judge Kathleen Tocco. He is charged with second-degree murder, a possible life felony.

Newsome was being held without bond and was turned over to the custody of the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office at the hospital. He is scheduled to appear for a probable cause conference at 8:30 a.m. Feb. 14 in front of District Court Judge Joseph Boedecker, and a preliminary exam at 8:30 a.m. Feb. 21.

“Our duty is to uphold the principles of the law and seek accountability for the loss of a life and ensuring that justice prevails for the victim and their grieving loved ones,” Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido said in a prepared statement.

As of press time, Newsome did not have an attorney, according to the Prosecutor’s Office. Electronic court records had not yet been updated with the case’s information.