Neighbor charged in murders of mother, daughter at Minneapolis apartment

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - A 46-year-old man was charged Thursday in the murders of a mother and daughter at an apartment in the Marcy-Holmes neighborhood of Minneapolis Saturday night. 

Richie Lee Vessel is charged with two counts of second-degree murder with intent in the deaths of 67-year-old Eileen Mark and her daughter, 42-year-old Jennifer Angerhoffer, who were found dead of gunshot wounds at Mark's apartment in the Holmes Park Village apartments around 10:30 p.m. Saturday night. 

According to the charges, several witnesses reported hearing loud music and male and female voices arguing prior to the shooting, followed by multiple gunshots. When Vessel was questioned following the shooting, he claimed not to have heard anything.

Vessel, who lived across the hall from Mark, was arrested Monday night several blocks away from the apartment building. Neighbors said he remained around the apartment complex on Sunday and most of Monday before officers took him into custody. 

Investigators executed a search warrant at Vessel's apartment, where they found a blood-like substance on the walls. In a trash dumpster from the apartment complex, they found a trash bag continaing a handgun matching the bullet casings found in the victim's apartment as well as mail and a prescription pill bottle with Vessel's name on it. 

Vessel had previously threatened to kill another resident of the apartment building with a gun, the charges say. 

Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman has planned a news conference for 1:30 p.m. Thursday regarding the charges. 

Vessel is expected to make his first court appearance on Friday.