Police: Man Found Dead in Hotel Was Strangled

PHILADELPHIA- WTXF - Police say the 75-year-old man who was found dead Monday at the Rodeway Inn on Walnut Street in Center City was strangled to death, and now his case in the hands of homicide detectives.

The victim was identified earlier on Tuesday as Dr. Howard S. Baker who, along with his wife, maintained a private practice called Baker & Baker Psychology/Psychiatry Associates, based in Wynnewood.

Baker, along with his wife, also maintained a private practice called Baker & Baker Psychology/Psychiatry Associates, based in Wynnewood.

Sunday, Baker told his wife that he was going to watch the Eagles game at a bar, according to investigators. But instead came here to the Rodeway Inn at 12th and Walnut near his center city office.

"The victim checked in at 3 p.m, leaves out, comes back with the first visitor, an hour or so see first visitor leave he goes out again comes back with a second, totally different male visitor who leaves with the doctor's backpack and wallet," Capt. John Clark of Philadelphia Police's homicide division said.

The hotel staff found the doctor's body at checkout time the next morning

"He was on the floor next to the bed naked leather belt extremely tight around his neck."

Detectives say he was strangled to death, they collected bags of evidence yesterday and were back out today, retrieving more video and canvassing the neighborhood

"The second suspect, we're calling a person of interest, is described as a light-complected male, mid 20s red puffy vest