Homeless Man Charged with Murdering Elderly Dementia Patient

0:00A 40-year-old homeless man named Lavanta, Martell Wilder, just got hit with a murder charge after allegedly beating an 84-year-old dementia. Patient to death and setting him on fire in downtown Los Angeles. This went down in the overnight hours on Monday, along 6th Street, between Hope and Grand. The victim, Bang Cho, approached Wilder, grabbed one of his bags, and that's when things turned brutal. Wilder punched and kicked him, slammed him. Down. Ben lit him up. Since Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hockman called out the extreme violence against such a vulnerable elder, sending thoughts to Cho's family, amid this nightmare. It's a stark reminder of how fragile folks on the streets can be easy targets. Wilder faces a special allegation for a prior serious felony, with a raiment set for May 21st and bail at $2,050,000. Conviction can mean life behind bars. Officials are pushing hard for justice, but the investigation is still rolling as they piece together every detail.

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