Meat worker killed colleague after chair prank, police say
FRANCONIA, Pa. >> Police say a worker at a suburban Philadelphia meat rendering plant has been charged with fatally stabbing a colleague a day after the co-worker yanked a chair out from under him as a prank.
Thirty-two-year-old Peter Atem has been charged with first-degree murder in the Wednesday death of 25-year-old Danny Vazquez. Vazquez was killed at the MOPAC plant in Franconia Township. His last words were: "Tell my wife I love her."
Police say witnesses saw Atem stab Vazquez. It wasn’t clear Thursday if Atem had hired an attorney.
Police say they found Atem hiding in a shed with self-inflicted stab wounds, along with a note that said "See you in hell. Life for life." He was taken to a hospital, where he had surgery. He remained hospitalized Thursday.
