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Jonathan Tunnell, 40, of Philadelphia, is facing first, second, and third-degree murder charges for the murder of Henry Palmen, 35, in a hotel room in King of Prussia on Monday, June 14, according to Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele and Upper Merion police chief Thomas Nolan.
Responding to a report of a suspected overdose victim found by a Fairfield Inn maintenance man, Upper Merion police officers found Palmen in a room, dead with a bleeding wound to the side of his head at approximately 3:30 p.m., Steele and Nolan said.
Officers noticed a small-diameter bullet wound on Palmen, and numerous packages of marijuana edibles, and a large amount of white and orange pills, authorities said.
An autopsy determined that Palmen died of a gunshot wound to the head and the manner of death was homicide, Steele and Nolan said.
Dr. Erica Williams, a forensic pathologist with the Montgomery County coroner's office also noted stippling between the left ear and eye indicating that Palmen was shot from close range, authorities said.
As Upper Merion police and Montgomery County Detectives launched a joint investigation into the homicide, they found that Palmen had arranged a meeting to sell/buy drugs, authorities said.
A man, later identified as Tunnell, was seen in surveillance video walking along Mall Boulevard near the Fairfield Inn at 10:26 a.m., and then seen again at 10:46 a.m., walking quickly in the opposite direction, Steele and Nolan said.
While the man was wearing a mask and dark clothing, distinctive tattoos can be seen on both of his hands and match photos of his tattoos that detectives obtained, authorities said.
Hotel personnel also saw Tunnell enter the hotel and elevator.
“Upper Merion Police did an outstanding job in their immediate actions in the hotel room. They secured needed evidence to quickly solve this murder, which appears to have happened during a drug deal gone bad,” DA Steele said.
“This defendant was just released on parole last August and was wanted prior to this murder for violations to his parole and probation. Excellent and fast police work, with help from U.S. Marshalls, got this dangerous defendant off the streets.”
Tunnell is charged with First-Degree Murder, Second-Degree Murder, Third-Degree Murder, Person Not to Possess a Firearm, Possessing an Instrument of Crime and related charges.
There is no bail available for First-Degree Murder, and the defendant was remanded to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m., June 28, 2021 before Judge Maruszczak.
The case will be prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Allison Ruth and Gabriella Hughes.
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