NORFOLK, VIRGINIA: A husband and wife in Norfolk, Virginia, battered a man to death with a frying pan and baseball bat and then put a dog leash around his neck, stated court documents. A press release said that Norfolk police were called around 6.40 pm Friday, August 11, to a report of a death inside an apartment.

When authorities arrived, they discovered Jose Moreno, 45, dead inside. Detectives arrested James C Lynch, 50, and Kristie M Lynch, 43, on a second-degree murder charge after an investigation, police said.

Who are James and Kristie Lynch?

According to ABC affiliate WVEC, court documents filed Monday detailed how the crime took place. Both James and Kristie “waited and went out before contacting police” and admitted to killing Moreno, the TV station reported.

The victim was found at the bottom of the staircase and suffered several deep lacerations to his head, and bruises on his face and back.

The Lynches told investigators that a verbal altercation got heated and turned physical which prompted them to hit him with a frying pan and then beat him on the head and knees with the baseball bat, the document stated.

After that, the couple “placed dog leash around his [Moreno’s] neck; admitted to causing victim’s injuries,” stated the document.

Records also show that James and Kristie Lynch were arraigned Monday and are at the Norfolk City Jail without bond.

What did Jose Moreno's friends say?

Friends of Moreno took to Facebook to mourn his death and described him as a kind soul and a cheerful person. “This is absolutely disgusting!” one friend wrote.

One of his friends wrote, “I am sick to my stomach learning about this. Jose was such a special part of our church family.” Another friend commented, “I can’t shake this since I heard. He did not deserve anything like this at all. He was always smiling.”