Disabled man dies after beating
MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin (AP) -- A disabled man died from head injuries after allegedly being beaten and robbed by about 10 young men near his home, police said.
David Rutledge Jr., 54, died Thursday at a hospital where he was admitted Sunday after telling authorities he hurt himself when he fell.
It wasn't until doctors discovered Rutledge had multiple skull fractures that authorities doubted his story, said Milwaukee Police Sgt. Ken Henning.
Rutledge's friend told doctors Wednesday that another man saw the beating, which occurred just west of downtown Milwaukee.
The victim and the witness both lived at West Samaria, a residential home for about 90 people with mental and physical disabilities or chronic illnesses.
Rutledge had lived there since 1998 and often walked around the neighborhood, said Mike Brever, executive director of Tri-Corp Housing Inc., which owns and manages West Samaria.
Brever said it was not uncommon for the residents to be victimized, but that Rutledge's beating was far more violent than other incidents.
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