Old Man beaten to Death for Comics

Old Man beaten to Death for Comics

A 77 year old man was attacked and later died over his beloved comic book collection....

By Superzero - Oct 19, 2010 01:10 PM EST
Filed Under: Other
Source: Yahoo.com

Some very disturbing news over at Yahoo, where they have a story about a kind-hearted, elderly man who was robbed by thugs for his valuable comic book collection....



ALBANY, N.Y. – An unassuming 77-year-old bachelor who had hoped to sell a valuable comic book collection and leave the money to his family was robbed by a Rochester businessman's thugs, was roughed up and hours later died of a heart attack, authorities said.
Homer Marciniak got his first comic book when he was 6 and hoped to leave his sisters and nephew with the proceeds from the collection, valued at $40,000 to $100,000, said Jose Avila, police chief in Medina, in rural western New York between Rochester and Buffalo.That quest took him to several comic book shops in the Rochester area — and to Rico Vendetti, the owner of a tavern and a restaurant who once owned a collectibles business, the police chief said. "I think he ran into the wrong person, and this person thought, 'This is something I can get from this guy,'" Avila said.Marciniak, who wasn't married and had no children, was a "very well-known, very quiet churchgoing man" around Medina who had
worked as a janitor at a bank, said Avila, the police chief. Thieves broke into his home around 4 a.m. July 5 and hit him in the face. He was treated at a hospital, returned home that afternoon and was interviewed by police, and died of the heart attack after officers left, the police chief said. He had a heart condition, authorities said.The case broke Thursday night when a woman charged with prostitution in Rochester gave investigators information that led to the arrest, Orleans County District Attorney Joseph Cardone said.Police charged Vendetti, 41, and Juan Javier, 17, with burglary. They are not charged with beating Marciniak and will not be charged with murder, Avila said, but more charges are pending against them and more arrests are expected.Vendetti was freed after posting $100,000 bail Friday. Javier was arraigned Monday and jailed on $100,000 bail. Messages left with their lawyers weren't immediately returned. Messages left for Vendetti at his two Rochester businesses — Papa Van's Restaurant and Al's Green Tavern — also went unreturned. The comic books haven't been recovered, and the exact connection to the woman charged with prostitution wasn't clear.In addition to the comic books, some of which dated to the '30s and '40s, the thieves made off with cash, coins and firearms, authorities said.Avila said that in the weeks afterward, he and his wife spent Sundays visiting flea markets and garage sales, hoping a comic book dealer would have a tip that could lead to an arrest, Avila said."I was hoping to get a lucky break for Homer," Avila said. "He could not handle losing those comic books. To him, they were priceless."

Just terrible news. Where's Frank Castle when we need him?

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selinakyle
selinakyle - 10/19/2010, 2:11 PM
That is so sad. :(
RIP
1Rocketeer
1Rocketeer - 10/19/2010, 2:28 PM
I hate Rochester. This place truly is chock full of scum.

Obi-Wan agrees http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRd_vZT6zPY
Superzero
Superzero - 10/19/2010, 2:32 PM
I agree Hamm...and based on the fact that the guy bought his first comic when he was six in 1939 we are talking a Golden Age collection...it is a very sad story indeed MsKyle....has anyone seen the film "Comic Book Villains" it's about a couple of guys who own a comic store and try to cheat an old lady out of her dead son's VERY rare collection....a good film.
KUSlacker
KUSlacker - 10/19/2010, 2:40 PM
we dress up in costume and find these guys just sad really some ppl would be like this
LEEE777
LEEE777 - 10/19/2010, 3:25 PM
Hamm3rtym3 @Exacly dude, exactly, proper scum!

Superzero @ Yeah I've got "Comic Book Villains" on DVD dude, cool film!

Anyways R.I.P.

:(
Spilox
Spilox - 10/19/2010, 3:50 PM
Damn, we need some vigilante justice!
marvel72
marvel72 - 10/19/2010, 4:13 PM
f*cking arseholes.
Superzero
Superzero - 10/19/2010, 4:25 PM
@ Cataract and Spilox
see last sentence of my article...heh heh
RockNRollCC
RockNRollCC - 10/19/2010, 5:08 PM
This is so sad.

WTF if up with people today?! I blame the economy. It's driving us crazy, apparently...
Retribution13
Retribution13 - 10/19/2010, 5:16 PM
I want to kill that piece of crap who did it.
cgrass5150
cgrass5150 - 10/19/2010, 5:40 PM
This scum should be tried for assault and attempted murder, especially when you consider the age differences of the perpetrators and this poor man. It takes real tough guys to beat up and rob a 77 year-old man. Let's hope they go to jail, get repeatedly gang-raped, contract AIDS, and die the slow, miserable death they deserve. My heart goes out to the victim and his family.
Superzero
Superzero - 10/19/2010, 7:57 PM
@cgrass5150 well put
xBigbotx
xBigbotx - 10/19/2010, 8:53 PM
that sucks those people should be sent to prison for life. i remenber when someone broke into my house and took my comics it suck cuz that wast the only thing they took.
IronicMan
IronicMan - 10/19/2010, 9:14 PM
Rest in Peace, brother.
Sanderman
Sanderman - 10/19/2010, 9:33 PM
i feel bad cuz the opening title of this on the homepage kinda made me laugh..it's terrible though. they should fry
SandMan101
SandMan101 - 10/19/2010, 9:48 PM
This is why we need comicbook heros
theangrytroll
theangrytroll - 10/19/2010, 9:55 PM
I live just outside of Rochester, and I actually had dinner at Papa Van's last summer. Not only is this guy a piece of crap for what he did to an old man, but the restaurant sucks! The wait staff are unpleasant and rude, they don't know what food they have available. The busboys are listening to IPODs turned up full blast while they're clearing tables next to customers. The food tasted like it came from the frozen foods section of a supermarket and was heated up in the microwave. What I'm sayin' is, AFTER he gets done serving a hopefully LONG sentence for what he did to that poor old man, they should add on additional time for crimes against Humanity!
Superzero
Superzero - 10/19/2010, 10:09 PM
See guys, I liked the piece that was posted about "How did comics change your life" and then I saw this. I felt obligated to post it as a mirror article to the other. Obviously this old man had nothing BUT his comics. Quite expensive and rare ones at that, and he lost his very LIFE for them. This is just a "make you think" piece is all...
VikingBeserker
VikingBeserker - 10/19/2010, 10:25 PM
What the hell is wrong with the world?
Where is Frank Castle when you need him.
ComradeGrey
ComradeGrey - 10/19/2010, 11:42 PM
A bitter reminder that injustice is the prevailing power in the real world.
Hellmont
Hellmont - 10/19/2010, 11:52 PM
@Anil Rickly......my friend Jail!!! JAIL!!!! This is a f#ucking Outrage!!!

These men should RIde the Lightning no 20-30 year Death row they should ride the Lightning a month or two after having committed this heinous senseless crime.

@Superzero your right brother.....where is Frank Castle when u need him. The law abiding citizen need no fear from a vigilante of that nature.

No One should ever be violated. But at the age of 77 your very near to life's final straight away and instead of going out in ur sleep your life comes to an end over some comic books. That which you love. Not cool, Not Fair and certainly not American.
JediJoker515
JediJoker515 - 10/19/2010, 11:54 PM
Damn, this happened around where I live. Such a sad story, I hope the bastards responsible get locked up for life since around here they won't get the death penalty which they deserve.
Joe6Pack74
Joe6Pack74 - 10/20/2010, 12:40 AM
That is a sad story and another reason to make me dislike NY. Animals.
thedon786
thedon786 - 10/20/2010, 2:13 AM
those dirt bags can rot in hell
TheGlove
TheGlove - 10/20/2010, 3:28 AM
To steal a man's comics..the worst. poor old fella!If only there really was someone out there like Frank Castle.
MatchesMalone
MatchesMalone - 10/20/2010, 3:32 AM
Wow. This is just awful news. I can't believe anyone would attack an elderly man like that. And for f*cking comic books no less. What complete scumbags. Comics are supposed to bring people together and uplift, like this awesome site does every day, not destroy innocent lives. My faith in humanity dies a little bit more every time I hear something like this. I hope justice is swift and harsh in this case. My heart goes out to his family and friends. R.I.P.
Shaman
Shaman - 10/20/2010, 5:44 AM
I would be delighted to hear about comic book geeks around the world gathering to Rochester in one year's time from this man's death, and pull a Guy Fawkes on Vendetti. V for Vendetti!!! Someone make a facebook page!
SkunkApe1
SkunkApe1 - 10/20/2010, 6:12 AM
Just got back from a 2 week trip to Ireland, and am making plans to possibly move there for retirement.

If you are fortunate to travel abroad, you will find that the crap that goes on here doesn't happen in a lot of places.

My 2 cents, thats all.
chasesuperremey
chasesuperremey - 10/20/2010, 6:20 AM
:( what can be said its sad sorry for the family all he wanted to do was give them money when he left this world and he couldnt its sad. Comic fans should find away to raise this guys family like he was trying to do.
comicb00kguy
comicb00kguy - 10/20/2010, 6:39 AM
This is one of the most despicable things I've heard in a while. Those douchebags need to die slowly, sadistically, and painfully. I agree with others here- where is a real Frank Castle when he's needed?
SHHH
SHHH - 10/20/2010, 7:03 AM
Or...

crazyish
crazyish - 10/20/2010, 9:12 AM
u can tell who the real assholes in the world are who the hell beats an eldery man. thats disgusting some people need to rot in hell
MassExecutions
MassExecutions - 10/20/2010, 9:25 AM
@Superzero - You stole my comment! It's the last line of your article.
RIKSHAWRenegade
RIKSHAWRenegade - 10/20/2010, 9:59 AM
They need to find the Basterds and hang em high!!! R.I.P. Homer. This world needs to be cleansed of scum like them! We need The Punisher!!!
ikaiyoo
ikaiyoo - 10/20/2010, 10:38 AM
Did he not have his issues cataloged? If he had golden and silver age comics in this collection I would think he would have it recorded what he had if anything so he can keep up with it. If you find that list we can post the inventory to a lot of the collector sites, comic forums and dealers around the area. You get enough people on the look out for something like this someone is likely to run across something. I know that has been done about stolen custom cars on car forums and the cars are found. All we need is one to turn up find the person selling it and find out where he got it from.
Ceghead
Ceghead - 10/20/2010, 2:59 PM
that's vile! RIP Sir x
Protonite
Protonite - 10/20/2010, 8:04 PM
Let me guess - The attackers were deeply disturbed youths that have played a GTA game at some point in their lives, right? Thus, the real culprit here is video-games. /sarcasm

Parents need to stop blaming TV, music or games for their failure with their children.
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