Fall River man charged with murder, allegedly told police he stabbed former cellmate

A Fall River man is facing murder charges after a 53-year-old man was found fatally stabbed early Monday morning, prosecutors said.

Robert Hodgson, 48, was arraigned in Fall River District Court on a murder charge Monday. He is also facing negligent operation of a motor vehicle, leaving the scene of property damage, and marked lanes violation charges related to a 2023 warrant, court records show.

Fall River police first responded to a 911 call around 2:15 a.m. Monday reporting a stabbing at 57 Chesworth St., the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office said Monday.

Luis Xavier Perez Miranda, 53, was found with two stab wounds to his chest. He was pronounced dead at a hospital a short time later, prosecutors said.

Hodgson allegedly called and reported the stabbing himself, according to a police report filed in court, and indicated that he was responsible. The person who called 911 told dispatch “there’s a person killed,” a detective wrote in the police report, before saying “because I killed them with a knife.” The caller indicated it was “self-defense” and that two hospitals were conspiring to kill him, according to the police report.

Hodgson appeared in court Monday and was ordered committed without bail pending a mental health evaluation. Drew Segadelli, his lawyer, told Boston.com he will be examined for his competence to stand trial.

“It’s very early on, but there’s one portrait that I see coming through those reports of a self defense claim,” Segadelli said. “(But), is he of sound mind to even form any type of intent?”

‘It’s on video. You don’t need me.’

Hodgson was arrested on Quarry Street in Fall River around 6 a.m. Monday, the report said. He allegedly told a Massachusetts State Police trooper that he “threw the knife, but it was unclear on the location,” the police report said.

At the scene of the stabbing, police found multiple security cameras and a prescription bottle belonging to Hodgson, according to the report. The phone number that called 911 is also registered to Hodgson, and in an interview with police, he acknowledged making the call, according to the police report.

When asked about the stabbing, Hodgson allegedly said “he flipped out and started to come at me, but it was a lot more than that. It was a lot of things built up,” the report said. Hodgson said he had lived with Miranda, his former cellmate, for the past week and the pair had known each other more than 15 years.

Hodgson allegedly told police that the two men were alone in the apartment and had a verbal argument, the report said. When Miranda attempted to get up from his chair, Hodgson allegedly forced him back down and stabbed him twice with a 14-inch Rambo knife, the report said.

When asked if he was in danger, Hodgson said “they” were actively trying to kill him and that Miranda was in on it, according to the report, but did not indicate anyone in particular.

“It’s all on video, there’s like eight cameras in there,” Hodgson allegedly told police, per the report. “We were just like talking, then it was like arguing for a little bit, then he did that…It’s on video, you don’t need me.”

Hodgson is set to undergo a mental health examination at Bridgewater State Hospital Tuesday, Segadelli said.

Molly Farrar is a general assignment reporter for Boston.com, focusing on education, politics, crime, and more.