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Shop NowAn assistant Wayne County medical examiner revealed that 91-year-old Detroit resident Paul Monchnik was forced to drink gasoline before being beaten and burned to death in his own home.
Witnesses reported the house fire around 3 a.m. and when officers and firefighters arrived at the scene they discovered Monchnik’s body.
According to medics who pronounced him dead at the scene, the elderly man’s body appeared to have extensive burns throughout his body as well as a head injury.
Allegedly, someone had fatally assaulted Monchnik before setting his house ablaze.
Police are sharing that a robber beat Monchnik and in order to cover up the crime, the suspect traveled to a nearby gas station before returning to the home with a gas can to light on fire.
The autopsy report reveals that Monchnik was found with what appears to be gasoline in his system.
“It would have to come through the mouth,” Dr. Kilak Kesha testified in 36th District Court. “The victim could have drank it or (had it put into his open mouth while he was unconscious).”
The suspect is 17-year-old neighbor of Monchnik, George Steward, who entered the home of Monchnik in the early morning prior to the assault.
Police obtained footage of Steward purchasing the gasoline before the fire.
Steward was arrested and has been charged with felony murder as well as arson for his crime.
He is facing a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison.
“The word ‘heinous’ does not even begin to describe this crime,” Prosecutor Kym Worthy said in a statement.
Monchnik was a widower and father of three, who lived in the home for over 65 years.
“These neighbors, actually, have been helping my dad for years. So I’m really having a hard time getting my head around the idea that someone from their family was involved,” the victim’s son Scott Monchnik said.
Watch the video report here: ClickOnDetroit/Youtube
Source: AWM
