gatekeeper
Loves the "Funny" Button
A 91-year-old man was beaten, covered with gasoline and set on fire in a homicide in northwest Detroit early Monday, police said.
Officers and firefighters discovered Paul Monchnik's body when witnesses reported the blaze at the retired TV repairman’s Bentler Court home around 3 a.m., officials with the Detroit Police Department told WJBK-TV.
Investigators also found a possible gunshot wound on Monchnik’s head, and they’re still waiting for autopsy results before they name his official cause of death, according to the Detroit Free Press. Police have released a security camera image of a suspect they say was seen buying a jug full of gasoline at a nearby store.
They haven’t identified the man, who is described as a 5-foot-9 African-American in his 20s. Monchnik’s 2000 silver Chevrolet Venture van with CNU1721 is still missing, Police Chief James Craig said at a news conference Monday.
“This is a horrible crime, we’re asking for your help,” Craig said. “We’re going to do everything we can to identify this person. We do know there was a burglary."
He continued, "We believe during the suspect's entry into this home, there was an attack. However, in order for the suspect to cover his tracks, he decided to leave the location, obtain some gasoline, return and set the victim and the home on fire.”
Representatives for the police department didn’t immediately respond to a request for any updates in the search for the suspect Monday night.
The victim’s son, Scott Monchnik, told the Daily News his father immigrated to the U.S. from Poland and fixed televisions for almost 50 years. He’s survived by three children, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren he had recently met face-to-face for the first time two weeks ago.
“This is a heinous act beyond anything. This guy has to get caught and held accountable,” Monchnik said. “We would trust anybody with a conscience to step forward and put this S.O.B. behind bars.”
The family has planned a funeral for 10:30 a.m. Wednesday morning in Farmington Hills. Monchnik's relatives are asking those who feel moved by his death to give to a charity of their choice, his son said.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/detroit-man-91-beaten-set-fire-homicide-article-1.2444685