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Man arrested in death of Point Park University voice teacher

PITTSBURGH — Police have arrested the man who they believe murdered a Point Park teacher and his dog in Carrick.

The suspect, Joseph Martin, was the victim's roommate.

According to investigators, Martin, 35, suffers from mental health issues.

Police arrested him Tuesday afternoon as soon as he was released from a hospital where he had received a mental health evaluation.

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Martin is charged with aggravated cruelty to animals and criminal homicide.

According to court documents, Martin stabbed, shot and nearly decapitated his roommate, 71-year-old Ricardo Tobia.

Tobia's dog Sparky was also found dead inside the Carrick home on Saturday

Channel 11 has learned that Martin went to his mother's house in Baldwin after the murder.

He was shirtless, dirty and speaking nonsense, so his mother had him involuntarily admitted for a mental health evaluation and called police.

Tobia was a longtime vocal coach at Point Park University who inspired a lot of students.

A former student of Tobia's is in shock at what happened.

“He was the first person who encouraged me to be a male singer, which was very important for me at the time,” Jonathan Rohlf said.

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Police were called to Tobia’s Kirk Avenue home for a welfare check early Saturday. When they went inside, they found him and his dog dead.

Channel 11 was there as detectives returned to Martin's mother's home Tuesday.

Neighbors said Martin is a nice guy and a family man.

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"It's very shocking. I just can't even believe it because, the family, they're just such great people. (I've) known them for 30 years," neighbor Valerie Sroka said.

Channel 11 has learned there were incidents involving Tobia and Martin years ago.

One of them happened in 2016 when Martin was found chasing Tobia with a sword and making threats.