A Pennsylvania landlord has been sentenced for murder after admitting to assaulting his tenant, who succumbed to his injuries. The case involves Zachary Neiman, aged 37, who faced charges related to the death of his tenant, 42-year-old Michael Byers. Neiman entered a no-contest plea to third-degree murder and received a prison sentence ranging from 8 to 16 years on October 27. As part of a plea agreement, an involuntary manslaughter charge was dismissed.

Byers resided in a separate apartment on Neiman’s property. On the evening of April 29, 2023, both men were socializing and drinking around a firepit on Neiman’s premises. Northern York County Regional Police reported that neighbors overheard the pair engaging in a heated argument. Following the quarrel, neighbors approached Neiman, who allegedly confessed, according to court records sourced by local ABC affiliate WHTM, “I just beat the s— out of Mike.”

After speaking with Neiman, neighbors reported hearing further sounds of an assault. This incident reportedly took place around 10 p.m., according to their statements to the police.

In the early hours of the following day, Neiman contacted emergency services upon discovering Byers’ lifeless body outside, clad only in shorts and “covered in mud.” Court filings indicate that when first responders arrived, Neiman was attempting CPR on Byers, who was already unresponsive and cold. Neiman claimed he could not recall the events of the night due to excessive alcohol consumption.

Early the next morning, Neiman called 911 after discovering Byers dead outside his home, wearing just a pair of shorts and “covered in mud.” According to court documents, first responders arrived to find Neiman performing chest compressions on Byers, who was already cold to the touch. Neiman told police that he could not remember what happened the previous night because of how much he drank.

Neiman also told police that he went to bed at 11:30 p.m.

An autopsy performed on Byers listed his cause of death as blunt-force injuries complicated by ethanol intoxication.

Neiman was charged in November 2023 with third-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter.