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Homeless Man Held In Murder Of World War II Vet, 94

CHICAGO (CBS) -- A homeless man has been held without bond, on charges that he killed a 94-year-old World War II veteran who let the man stay at his home last year.

The Chicago Sun-Times reports Gilbert Feliciano was ordered held without bond Monday in the murder of Stanley Letkiewicz, of the 2800 block of North Long Avenue.

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Letkiewicz died on Nov. 23 of last year at Resurrection Medical Center. He died from cerebral injuries and blunt force trauma from an assault and his death was ruled a homicide, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's office.

Officials said last summer, Letkiewicz allowed the homeless Feliciano to move into his basement. He asked that Feliciano help with chores in return, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. Letkiewicz had met the suspect at an Aldi grocery store, police said in November.

But Letkiewicz told Feliciano to leave after he stole something in August, the Sun-Times reported.

On Sept. 3, Feliciano allegedly approached Letkiewicz as he was taking out his garbage and grabbed him by the arms and forced him back into his house, police said.

He demanded $100 from Letkiewicz and when he refused to give it to him, the beggar allegedly pushed him on the bed and punched Letkiewicz 10 times in the chest, police said. Letkiewicz offered him $40, but the suspect grabbed his wallet, removed $100 and fled.

Feliciano had also beaten Letkiewicz prior to that occasion, prosecutors were quoted as saying in the Sun-Times.

A neighbor became worried and when he went to check on Letkiewicz he found him lying face up on the floor with a dresser drawer on top of him, police said. The home was in disarray and appeared to have been ransacked.

Letkiewicz spent the next couple of months in the hospital before his death.

Feliciano was arrested Saturday, the Sun-Times reported.

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