Roommate of victim who beat victim found guilty in Phoenix murder case

Prosecutors have won a conviction against the roommate of a Phoenix man who died following a beating, while a neighbor awaits trial on murder charges.

Cory Scott Young, 45, pleaded guilty Thursday to first-degree hindering prosecution in the investigation into the murder of Jake Kelly, 39, who succumbed to his injuries on September 8, 2023, after being beaten on August 27 . , 2023. The neighbor, Angel Mullooly, 35, faces second-degree murder charges. Another of Kelly’s roommates, Shannon Marie Higgins, 38, is also charged with first-degree hindering prosecution.

According to court documents, Young and Higgins initially told police they returned home with Jake Kelly on Aug. 28, 2023, and later discovered him injured. However, charging documents revealed that this account was contradicted by witness statements and text messages exchanged between Mullooly and Higgins from the day before, which showed Kelly before the incident. The night of the attack, Mullooly allegedly sent a photo of a bloodied Kelly, admitting in the message that he was responsible for the beating, according to charging documents.

The victim’s mother, Jan Kelly, said in an interview with The Arizona Republic in September 2023 that her son’s roommates did not take him to the hospital until 10 to 12 hours after the beating. Jake Kelly’s injuries included blunt force trauma to the head and skull and rib fractures, according to his autopsy report. Jake Kelly was in a coma for 10 days before he died.

“He tried to get along with everyone,” Jan Kelly said in an interview with The Republic. “He was just a nice guy. And people loved him.”

Jake Kelly was born and raised in Phoenix and was working at a Red Devil Italian restaurant and pizzeria at the time of his death, his mother said.

Young, Mullooly and Higgins were arrested and charged in this case on November 10, 2023.

A review of several court documents filed by police and defense attorneys, reviewed by The Republic, reveals no clear motive identified by police for the beating.

Young’s sentencing is set for Dec. 4, according to court records.

Young served prison time in Arizona for aggravated assault convictions from 1999 and 2003, among other crimes, according to inmate records.

Court records indicate a trial in the case is scheduled for Dec. 11. It is unclear whether the trial will involve Mullooly or Higgins.

Republic reporters Miguel Torres and Elena Santa Cruz contributed to this article.