Man Confesses to
Killing Gay NYC Student

Police have a confession from a 22-year-old man who claims he was behind the slaying of gay student Kevin Pravia, 19, over the weekend in New York City. The body of the Pace University student was discovered by his roommate early Saturday morning.

Suspect Jeromie Cancel confessed to police Monday, telling them he punched the sleeping teen in the face, wrapped an electrical cord around his neck, stuffed a plastic bag in his mouth, and then smothered him with a pillow. He told police he then sat down next to the body and watched Saw on his television.

"He's mentally imbalanced," Cancel's father, Jesus Soto, told the New York Post. "He seemed off-balance. He didn't seem right."

According to Cancel, he met Pravia following a party at about 6 a.m. Saturday morning in New York's Union Square. Cancel claims he bought drugs from Pravia -- an allegation police told reporters they doubt -- before accompanying him back to his Chelsea apartment.

Cancel says the two were hanging out when Pravia fell asleep.

Police reported that Cancel made stole a cell phone, iPod, and laptop, which were later sold on the street. Cancel confessed to police after he was arrested Monday at his father's home in Queens.

Soto told police he had been estranged from his son for more than a decade before Cancel made contact earlier this summer. After staying at his home briefly, Soto said, Cancel robbed him and disappeared. He says he didn't see him again until Monday, when he arrived, bragging about killing someone.

"He said, 'I just killed someone,'" Soto said. "He had no remorse. He had a big smile. Then he told me again he killed someone. I called the cops, and when they pulled up -- and he just turned to cops and told them he just killed someone."

Police told reporters Soto had said his son was with someone shortly before the cops arrived. That man took off on foot, and reporters say they're uncertain whether police have any leads on that individual's identity. (The Advocate)