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4th man found dead had suffered beating
By Hector Gutierrez
News Staff Writer
A fourth man found dead near downtown this month was beaten to death, and police say they've begun investigating other reports of assaults on the homeless.
Three other men have been beaten to death since Sept. 7, all of them transients.
Police have not determined whether the fourth victim discovered Sunday afternoon in the Platte River near Cuernavaca Park also was homeless.
He was a white man, fully clothed, but was found with no identification. Detectives said Tuesday that he sustained injuries that would have been caused by a blunt object.
Police emphasize that although some similarities exist in the slayings they still are unsure whether they're related.
Staffers at the Samaritan House shelter have been discussing how to improve the transient population's safety, said Felecia Mahaffie, clinical supervisor.
``My worry is that this will continue and nothing will be done about it,'' Mahaffie said. ``If four successful people were murdered in downtown, people would be wondering what to do next. It would be news.''
Ken Dove, director of the Salvation Army's Crossroads Shelter, said he doesn't believe the slayings are related. Dove said it could be more indicative that the homeless live among the city's street toughs, he said.
``The streets are dangerous, especially at 2 or 3 in the morning, and that's the reason we have what we have,'' Dove said. ``There are dozens of scenarios that could have taken place.''
The bodies of George ``Billy'' Worth, 62, and Donald Dyer, 51, were discovered Sept. 7 under a loading dock at 2450 Blake St.
The following morning Melvin Washington, 52, was found unconscious on a sidewalk in the 1100 block of 18th Street. He died a week later.
Anyone with information about the beatings or the victims should contact detectives at (303) 640-3540.
October 29, 1999
