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September 21
May 2
March 24
March 23
Homeless feel betrayed by verdict
March 19
March 17
March 16
March 14
December 10
November 28
Jeffrey John Hubert: Time slips away on streets
Beat on street among Denver's homeless is one of fear, defiance
Richard Steinmetz: Wary life among the 'clowns'
John Bryant & Katherine Livingston: Manhole cover for a bed
Keith Williams: Scars of street life
November 26
November 25
November 23
Murder suspect, 16, put in adult jail
LoDo not paralyzed by murders
November 22
Homeless shelters fill fast
November 21
LoDo rebirth disrupts street life rhythms
November 20
November 19
FBI profilers may help solve murders
Death takes many forms for homeless
'We have nothing to be afraid of'
November 18
New killings spread fear in homeless
November 15
November 12
November 10
November 7
November 5
October 31
Men felt lure of streets
October 30
October 29
October 28
Police ponder connections in four downtown slayings
October 27
October 24
October 9
October 7
September 30
September 18
September 9
By Sue LindsayDenver Rocky Mountain News Staff Writer
A homeless man was beaten until his ribs turned to mush after an argument over spare change, an accused killer told police. Thomas Holden, 18, and Christopher Ball, 16, were ordered Thursday to stand trial in the beating death of Melvin Washington, 47, a homeless man sleeping on a steam grate when he was attacked Sept. 8. Also charged is Nathan Harrison, 20, who was arrested last month in San Francisco. Detective Richard Schneider said the men first argued with Washington at a downtown 7-Eleven over spare change. The three later saw Washington sleeping in Skyline Park near 18th and Arapahoe streets. They have given police different accounts about who did what in the attack. Harrison, who claimed to have been a lookout, told police Holden kicked Washington in the head, Schneider said. Ball kicked him in the ribs, he said. Holden, who also claimed to have been the lookout, told police Ball spotted Washington sleeping on the grate and said, "There's that b----. We have to get him." Holden said Ball hit Washington on the head with a bottle and then began kicking him while Harrison kicked his head. Holden said they stopped kicking him "because his ribs had turned to mush," Schneider said. Holden also told police that he slipped in Washington's blood while trying to get Ball to leave. In the process, he said, he may have stepped on Washington's face, knocking out a tooth. The three fled after spotting a motorist who appeared to be calling police, Schneider said. Holden and Harrison both told police they thought Washington was dead. Washington's slaying is one of a series of attacks on homeless men since September that killed seven. December 10, 1999
A homeless man was beaten until his ribs turned to mush after an argument over spare change, an accused killer told police.
Thomas Holden, 18, and Christopher Ball, 16, were ordered Thursday to stand trial in the beating death of Melvin Washington, 47, a homeless man sleeping on a steam grate when he was attacked Sept. 8. Also charged is Nathan Harrison, 20, who was arrested last month in San Francisco.
Detective Richard Schneider said the men first argued with Washington at a downtown 7-Eleven over spare change. The three later saw Washington sleeping in Skyline Park near 18th and Arapahoe streets. They have given police different accounts about who did what in the attack.
Harrison, who claimed to have been a lookout, told police Holden kicked Washington in the head, Schneider said. Ball kicked him in the ribs, he said.
Holden, who also claimed to have been the lookout, told police Ball spotted Washington sleeping on the grate and said, "There's that b----. We have to get him."
Holden said Ball hit Washington on the head with a bottle and then began kicking him while Harrison kicked his head. Holden said they stopped kicking him "because his ribs had turned to mush," Schneider said.
Holden also told police that he slipped in Washington's blood while trying to get Ball to leave. In the process, he said, he may have stepped on Washington's face, knocking out a tooth.
The three fled after spotting a motorist who appeared to be calling police, Schneider said. Holden and Harrison both told police they thought Washington was dead.
Washington's slaying is one of a series of attacks on homeless men since September that killed seven.
December 10, 1999
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