The brother and a second housemate of a mentally disabled Harrison Township man have been charged with fatally beating him before his body was found propped up on a couch by police -- who were told he had fallen down the stairs.

Police have added a criminal homicide charge against 56-year-old Larry Duff and 22-year-old Jason Link. The men have been jailed on aggravated assault and other charges since the Oct. 15 death of 60-year-old Ronald Duff.

On Wednesday, Larry Duff’s wife, Lisa, was also charged with simple assault. She is being held in jail on $5,000 bail.

According to court documents, Link punched the victim and Larry Duff beat him with a stick before he was given a bath and then set on the couch. Police said they also used a stun gun to beat Ronald Duff.

Investigators said Larry Duff instructed everyone in the house to tell paramedics that Ronald fell down the stairs. All of the men and Lisa Duff lived together.

“Tragedy strikes everywhere and everyone. Unfortunately this is one of those times,” a friend of the Duff family said.

Larry Duff and Link remain jailed without bond.

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