Murder charges likely in Monroe man s death
7/9/2009MONROE Murder charges are expected to be filed next week against two homeless men charged with beating a fellow homeless man who died in St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center, police said.
The victim, Darrell White, 57, was found beaten and unconscious beneath the Winchester Street bridge Friday. He died Tuesday without regaining consciousness.
Police arrested two men, John Howell, 41, and Clyde Kitts, 49. Both are charged with assault with intent to do great bodily harm and are being held in the Monroe County jail in lieu of $100,000 cash bonds.
Monroe police Detective Bryan Gee said Mr. White was beaten for trying to steal alcohol from other homeless men beneath the bridge.
He said he expected the assault charges to be upgraded to open murder Monday or Tuesday, after the Lucas County coroner has ruled on the cause of death.