A homeless Chicago man generally known as ‘The Strolling Man’ has died from horrific accidents he sustained practically seven months after being set on fireplace whereas sleeping in a heap of blankets exterior of Trump Tower.
Joseph Kormelis, 75, a fixture within the Chicago neighborhood and branded ‘The Strolling Man,’ for strolling miles a day across the downtown space – one thing he had accomplished for many years – died on Sunday at 4.08pm, the Prepare dinner County Medical Examiner’s Workplace revealed.
Kormelis sustained burns to greater than 50 % of his physique when Joseph Guardia, 27, allegedly poured a flammable liquid on his head and set him ablaze within the Could 25, 2022 assault.
Guardia was later arrested and charged with tried first-degree homicide and arson, in accordance with the Chicago Police Division. He was recognized by cops together with his memorable dollar-sign face tattoo.
Additionally, recognized for his lengthy grey bushy hair, grey mustache, and sports activities coat, Kormelis wasn’t anticipated to outlive, however in September was transferred to a rehab middle.
It wasn’t clear if his loss of life was a results of the assault, however an post-mortem was scheduled for Monday.
Kormelis, recognized for his trademark lengthy grey hair, mustache and sport coat, was a fixture within the downtown Chicago neighborhood and branded the ‘strolling man’ for his frequent romps across the metropolis streets over the previous few a long time
Suspect Joseph Guardia, 27, poured gasoline on Kormelis’ head and set him ablaze. He was;ater charged with tried first diploma homicide and arson. Guardia instructed cops he did not know there was a person beneath the pile of blankets
The prosecutor mentioned there was no historical past between the 2 males.
Guardia instructed police that he had discovered a McDonald’s cup stuffed with gasoline and determined he needed to set one thing on fireplace.
He claimed to not know that Kormelis was beneath the blankets regardless of surveillance footage displaying his legs and arms protruding from the masking.
Assistant State Lawyer Danny Hanichak mentioned Guardia ‘was an offended particular person and determined he was going to set one thing on fireplace.’
‘He mentioned he was going to burn some trash,’ Hanichak mentioned.
In accordance with the prosecutor, moments after the heinous act Kormelis stood up and started thrashing round attempting to place the flames out as Guardia fled the scene.
Regardless of his try to extinguish the flames, Kormelis was engulfed in flames as the fireplace unfold to his decrease torso. It lasted for a minimum of three minutes till a safety guard seen the stunning scene on his surveillance monitor and rushed out with a fireplace extinguisher to assist the burning man, the prosecutor added.
He was rushed to Stroger Hospital with ‘extreme burns to greater than 50 % of his physique,’ prosecutor mentioned.
He added, that ‘he’s not anticipated to get better.’
The prosecutor mentioned there was no historical past between the 2 males. Guardia instructed police that he had discovered a McDonald’s cup stuffed with gasoline and determined he needed to set one thing on fireplace
Assistant State’s Lawyer Danny Hanichak mentioned Guardia ‘was an offended particular person and determined he was going to set one thing on fireplace.’ ‘He mentioned he was going to burn some trash,’ Hanichak mentioned
Police launched this video surveillance footage of Joseph Guardia sporting a hoodie with the phrases ‘HOOD RICH’ printed on the entrance. That is believed to be after he set Kormelis on fireplace
The suspect, who was arrested on Could 27 mentioned he had no mal intent towards Kormelis throughout the police interrogation.
‘The defendant didn’t present any particular motive apart from being an offended particular person,’ the Assistant State lawyer mentioned.
‘It takes a particular form of evil to do what the defendant did on this case. For 16 seconds he stood over the sufferer at shut vary. His assertion that he did not know an individual was there’s outrageous and is a lie,’ Hanichak mentioned.
‘This defendant selected to pour gasoline on a human being after which set him on fireplace leaving him to burn alive for 3 minutes. One can solely think about the ache and struggling the sufferer skilled in these three minutes.
‘This defendant didn’t goal somebody who he had an argument with, or somebody who wronged him, or somebody that he even knew. This defendant determined to focus on probably the most susceptible particular person attainable.
‘A 75-year-old homeless man sleeping on the road. In 16 years of prosecuting instances I’ve by no means seen a video so horrific.
Joseph Kormelis, 75, a fixture within the Chicago neighborhood and branded ‘The Strolling Man,’ for strolling miles a day across the downtown space – one thing he had accomplished for many years
Kormelis was a lot part of Chicago that he appeared on the street artwork across the metropolis
Kormelis was raised in an enormous household in Chicago. He tried his hand at varied jobs, however largely peddled jewellery on the road
Kormelis who was also referred to as ‘The Strolling Dude,’ was raised in Chicago and had an enormous household.
A beloved character who was thought of by Chicagoans as a part of the town panorama.
He offered jewellery on the road and had lived in a single-room condominium till his dwelling was transformed to a luxurious condominium constructing.
Previously, he was in comparison with the Greek composer Yani or actor Richard Gere.
He was attacked at random as soon as earlier than in 2016, when he was additionally hospitalized, however finally recovered.
