Indictment Issued In 94-Year-Old Cleveland Man's Death

CLEVELAND — A grand jury has indicted Michael Dudas for murdering a 94-year-old man in Cleveland, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O'Malley announced. Dudas is being held at Cuyahoga County Jail on a $2 million bond.

“This was a brutal murder by an individual who has no regard for human life,” said O’Malley. “This senseless killing – of a man who served our nation during a time when we needed him most – is truly tragic.”

On April 15, police and EMS were called to a home in Cleveland's Old Brooklyn neighborhood. Officers were asked to do a welfare check. They entered the home and found the 94-year-old man unconscious.

The 94-year-old was pronounced dead on the scene. He was later identified as Charles Vonderau, a wheelchair-bound World War II veteran.

The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's office ruled the death a homicide on April 16. Dudas was taken into custody in Cleveland on April 18.

Police later said Dudas beat Vonderau to death inside Vonderau's home in Cleveland's Old Brooklyn neighborhood.

Dudas was indicted on the following charges:

• Two counts of aggravated murder
• One count of murder
• One count of aggravated robbery
• One count of aggravated burglary
• One count of kidnapping
• One count of felonious assault
• Four counts of misuse of credit cards

Dudas will be arraigned on Thursday.