Ohio Man Sentenced For Murdering World War II Veteran

CLEVELAND — Michael Dudas pleaded guilty this week to murdering a 94-year-old World War II veteran.

Dudas, 42, was sentenced to life in prison, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O'Malley announced.

“Mr. Charles Vonderau was a World War II veteran and a treasure to his family and the Old Brooklyn community,” O'Malley said. “This barbaric crime should keep Michael Dudas in prison for the remainder of his life.”

According to prosecutors, on April 15, 2020, Vonderau's daughter called Cleveland police and asked them to do a welfare check on her father. She said she had not heard from her dad in several days.

Cleveland EMS and Second District officers went to Vonderau's home on Plymouth Road, in the Old Brooklyn neighborhood. The 94-year-old was found inside the house, unresponsive. He was pronounced dead that day.

The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's office ruled Vonderau's death a homicide on April 16.

Investigators linked Dudas to the murder through DNA evidence, credit card transactions and video surveillance, prosecutors said. Police believe Dudas hit Vonderau multiple times with a hammer.

Dudas then stole Vonderau's credit cards and threw the hammer on the roof of a neighbor's house, prosecutors said. The hammer was later found by investigators and tested for DNA, connecting Dudas to the crime.

A hospital admission identification band found on the floor of Vonderau's house also placed Dudas at the crime scene, court records show. Surveillance video and bank records revealed Dudas using the stolen credit cards at gas station and ATMs, prosecutors added.

Dudas was taken into custody by law enforcement while he was eating at a restaurant on Pearl Road.

The 42-year-old pleaded guilty to aggravated murder, aggravated robbery and misuse of credit cards. He was sentenced to life in prison and will first be eligible for parole in 28 to 29 years.