Cheri Oteri's Dad Slain by Country Songwriter

Father of SNL star murdered by roommate in Nashville home

It's a sad day for Cheri Oteri.

The former Saturday Night Live funnylady is in mourning after receiving word that her father has been murdered in his Nashville home.

Police arrested 61-year-old country songwriter Richard Fagan and charged him with criminal homicide in the stabbing death of 69-year-old Gaetano Thomas Oteri. Fagan is being held without bond in a local jail.

According to Nashville police, officers responded to a neighbor's call Sunday to check on Oteri's welfare and arrived to find the house in disarray and the screen door locked. After entering, they discovered Oteri's body with multiple stab wounds.

The Metro Nashville Police Department says the two men lived together as roommates and had gotten into a fight at about 9 p.m. Saturday.

Upon further investigation, detectives found and questioned Fagan, who had been busted for a DUI after the murder. He admitted to drinking six shots of alcohol that night, pulling out a pocket knife and stabbing the TV comic's dad, police said. Following the interview, the composer was placed under arrest.

Fagan has cowritten several hits by country star John Michael Montgomery, including "Sold (the Grundy County Auction Incident)," "I Miss You a Little" and "Be My Baby Tonight."

There was no immediate comment from Cheri Oteri's reps.