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Man arrested after allegedly beating teenage boyfriend to death

By Micah Sulit

A 20-year-old man from Texas has been arrested after allegedly beating his teenage boyfriend to death.

Bryan Michael Canchola is currently in police custody after his 18-year-old boyfriend, Stephen Sylvester, Jr., died from injuries he sustained following a physical fight. The two had been out drinking, reports KVUE.

Happier times: The last photo Sylvester (right) posted on Instagram was with Canchola

According to an affidavit, the couple’s unnamed roommate told detectives that Canchola and Sylvester had returned to their apartment at around 3:30am, where they headed to their room and locked the door.

Some time later, the roommate heard screaming and banging in the other room. Canchola also appeared to be hurting Sylvester’s dog. The roommate found Sylvester bleeding from the back of his head.

Canchola reportedly threw glasses at Sylvester and their roommate as they left for University Medical Center Brackenridge. Sylvester checked himself in, but returned to the apartment before getting any medical help.

Back at their home, Canchola called 911 to report that he and Sylvester had gotten in a physical fight, and that the latter was unconscious and bleeding from a head wound.

Police arrived on the scene and brought Sylvester back to hospital, where he later died. Autopsy results indicated that the cause of death was head trauma. Sylvester also had a neck fracture and signs of strangulation.

Canchola is now awaiting a formal murder charge. His bond is set at $500,000.

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