NOTE: Six Related News Articles and Links to Two Videos Included In This One Post

Sheriff: Beatings Possibly Hate Crimes

Attack Victim Dies 6 Months Later

October 16, 2009

VIDEO: Mourners gather for a candlelight vigil for the victim of a fatal beating as investigators work to determine whether his death was a hate crime. http://www.justnews.com/video/21312123/index.html, (After Clicking Enclosed Links, Use Browser Back Button To Return To This Article)

WILTON MANORS, Fla. -- Nearly 100 people gathered Thursday night in Wilton Manors to celebrate the life of a man who died this week after being attacked and beaten.

There was renewed fervor that what happened to 47-year-old Craig Cohen was not random. Broward County Sheriff Al Lamberti said he believed the crime against him may have been a hate crime.

"My philosophy is, you work it as a hate crime until you can you can prove that it's not," Lamberti told Local 10's Janine Stanwood.

On April 6, Cohen, who was gay, was attacked and beaten as he walked home from an Oakland Park diner. Police said his skull was cracked and his cell phone was stolen.

Minutes later and blocks away, another victim, also a gay man, was beaten, as well.

Police later arrested two suspects, Victor Gonzalez and Pargu Leandro, in connection with the attacks.

While the second victim pulled through, Cohen was in a coma for six months and died last week.

Days later, a third suspect was arrested in the beatings: 18-year-old Chad Olah. Because Cohen had died, Olah is being charged with murder. The other two suspects likely will be, as well, Stanwood reported.

The State Attorney's office, not the Broward Sheriff's Office, must determine whether Cohen's killing and the other beating were fueled by hate.

As of Thursday night, the state attorney had not classified what happened to the two men as hate crimes, but Lamberti said he would continue to investigate them as though they were.

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South Florida Blade

http://www.floridablade.com/2009/10-15/news/localnews/6370.cfm

Oakland Park Beating Victim Dies

Third suspect charged in beatings of two gay men

By DMITRY RASHNITSOV
October 15, 2009

Craig Cohen. (Photo courtesy Sonia Hendrick)

A gay man who was beaten into a coma more than six months ago has passed away while another suspect for the crime is under arrest.

Craig Cohen, 47, died in a hospice on Wednesday Oct. 7. Cohen and 27-year-old David Villanova were beaten in the early morning hours of Monday, April 6 in separate attacks by the same group of men, according to the Broward Sheriff‘s Office. The victims were attacked within hours of each other’s incidents.

Cohen’s funeral was on Tuesday Oct. 13 at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Pompano Beach. A candlelight vigil organized by Gay American Heroes will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15 at the Shoppes of Wilton Manors—there will be a short presentation with Craig’s family, co-workers, and community leaders, followed by candle light walk down Wilton Dr.

The family is asking that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to The Craig Cohen Animal Advocacy Project (CCAAP). Also condolences may be sent to The Family of Craig Cohen, 24 Lago Vista Place, Palm Coast, FL 32164.

Cohen was walking home on Oakland Park Blvd. after eating at Peter Pan Diner when a group of men attacked him, stomped his head into the ground, stole his cell phone and left him bleeding on the sidewalk. Cohen suffered trauma to the head and according to his brother Dr. David Cohen, had to undergo five surgeries including removing part of his skull and brain tissue to alleviate the pressure from the internal bleeding. He also had a tube inserted in his neck to assist with breathing and a V.P Shunt in his head that assisted with draining brain fluid into his abdomen. In his last few days Cohen had blood clots, an infection and organ failure.

Villanova was attacked outside the 7-Eleven at 1545 N.E. 4th Ave. in Fort Lauderdale, where he was also beaten and had some belongings stolen from him. He suffered trauma to the head, but has made a full recovery.

The Broward Sheriff’s Office arrested 18-year-old Chad Alexander Olah of Fort Lauderdale on charges of felony first-degree murder and strong-armed robbery. He is the third person under arrest for the crimes. Previously Victor Gonzalez, 22, and Pargu Leandro, 25, of Deerfield Beach were arrested with charges of Attempted Felony Murder, Strong Armed Robbery and Aggravated Battery. Olah was 17 at the time of the assault and is being held at the Juvenile Assessment Center. Both Gonzalez and Leandro are being held in the main jail and have immigration holds placed on them.

According to Broward Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Dani Moschella, “the charges will probably be enhanced to murder,” for Gonzalez and Leandro. In addition Moschella said that none of the men will be charged with a hate crime. She said that during the interviews with the sheriff’s officers all the suspects said they did not target Cohen or Villanova because of their orientation and instead went after them because they were walking alone. The attackers did not take Cohen’s wallet, credit cards, cash or watch.

“In the weeks following the attacks, there was some speculation as to whether they had been fueled by hate and perpetrated because the victims were both gay men. However, detectives have determined that the sexual preference of the victims didn’t factor in when their attackers were planning or committing the crimes,” said Commander Rick Wierzbicki of BSO’s Hate Crimes Task Force. “Cohen and Villanova were innocent victims, chosen simply because they were alone and defenseless.”

Wierzbicki added that witnesses to the attack also corroborated the accounts of the suspects leading detectives to take the hate crime enhancement off the table.

Wildlife lover, plans to retire

According to friends, Cohen loved animals of all species and had a 15-year-old Schnauzer named Eddie and five cats. Cohen also volunteered at the Wildlife Nature Center.

“He was a very gentle, loving kind soul, that never had a negative word to say, and yet he would be straight up honest with you,” said friend William Kirby. “He was a very sweet guy. He used to come to my house on Thanksgiving Day.”

Kirby said that Cohen had purchased some land in northern Florida where he wanted to retire in 2010 and open an animal rescue shelter.

Members of the Wildlife Nature Center have set up the Craig Cohen Animal Advocacy Project as part of the Pet Project as a way to help animals that are orphaned due to crime/violence/death.

Hate Crime

People in the Wilton Manors community are still in shock about the crime many months later and outrage is high that the Sheriff’s office is not pursuing the hate crime charges.

“His death saddens me deeply as well as scares me,” said Russ Crossman, a business development manager in Fort Lauderdale who did not know Cohen personally but plans on attending the candlelight vigil. “To me and many others this was an obvious hate crime and it could have happened to anyone - myself, my friends, or others in the community. It is unacceptable that this happened here in Fort Lauderdale and I hope that our community will finally come together and let others know that we will not allow these types of crimes to happen here.”

Broward Sheriff: Fatal Beating To Be Investigated As Hate Crime

State Attorney's Office to decide if formal charges will be filed under Florida's hate-crime law

By Joel Marino South Florida Sun Sentinel

October 15, 2009

More than 100 people gathered and marched Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009, in Wilton Manors to remember Craig Cohen and others in the gay and transgender community who have died from violence. Cohen, beaten outside an Oakland Park diner in April and left in a coma, died six months later. The community is calling it a hate crime, and on Thursday night Sheriff Al Lamberti appeared to tell the community it has been looked at as a hate crime from the beginning, but how it will be prosecuted still has to be determined. (Carey Wagner, Sun Sentinel / October 15, 2009)

3rd Suspect Charged In Fatal Beating

Victim Dies Months After Beating

October 14, 2009

(After Clicking Enclosed Video and Article Links, Use Browser Back Button To Return To This Article)

Chad Olah, Third Suspect Arrested in Brutal Beatings of Two Gay Men, One Killed

OAKLAND PARK, Fla. -- The Broward Sheriff's Office announced Wednesday the arrest of a third suspect in the April beatings of two men, just days after one of the victims died.

Craig Cohen, 47, was walking home on Oakland Boulevard on April 6 at about 1:20 a.m. after leaving the Peter Pan Diner when a group of men attacked him. Police said the attackers beat Cohen, stomping his head into the ground, stealing his cell phone and leaving him on the sidewalk.

Investigators said that a few minutes after the attack, the group of men attacked another man, 27-year-old David Villanova, who was walking in an area not far away. Police said the attackers broke Villanova's skull and stole his wallet.

A tip led police to arrest two suspects, 21-year-old Victor Gonzalez and 25-year-old Pargu Leandro, on April 27.

After living in a hospice for several months, Cohen died on Oct. 7, according to BSO.

On Wednesday, police announced the arrest of a third suspect, Chad Alexander Olah, who turned 18 this month.

Initially, there had been speculation over whether the beatings were hate crimes because Cohen and Villanova were gay. However, police said the victims' sexual orientation was not a factor in the attacks.

Police said they believe the attackers were a group of friends who had been drinking and smoking marijuana when they talked about how it would be fun to beat someone up. According to BSO, the group left the house where they were gathered, possibly to search for victims.

Olah faces charges of first-degree murder and strong-armed robbery. Police said they are working to increase the attempted murder charges against the other two suspects to murder charges.

2 Arrested In Beatings Of 2 Broward Men

BSO: Beatings Weren't Hate Crimes

Victor Gonzalez, (Right) Pargu Leandro (Left) Arrested in Brutal Beatings of Two Gay Men

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Two suspects have been arrested in connection with the beatings of two men in April.

Craig Cohen, 47, was found unconscious near the Peter Pan Diner at about 1:20 a.m. on April 6 after someone beat him up and stole his cell phone. According to the Broward Sheriff's Office, the attackers stomped Cohen's head into the ground and left him bleeding.

Cohen remains on life support and has not regained consciousness since the beating, BSO said.

David Villanova, 27, also was attacked about 2 miles away from the diner, near a 7-Eleven store in the 1500 block of Northeast Fourth Avenue. BSO said he was walking to the store from a local bar when the attackers jumped him, kicking his head and breaking his skull before they stole his wallet.

Investigators believed the same person or group attacked both men.

BSO had initially investigated whether the beatings were hate crimes because both Cohen and Villanova are gay, but in a news release Monday, Cmdr. Rick Wierzbicki of BSO's hate crimes task force said the investigation revealed that the victims' sexual orientation was not a factor.

"Cohen and Villanova were innocent victims, chosen simply because they were alone and defenseless," he said.

Victor Gonzalez, 21, and 25-year-old Pargu Leandro were arrested in connection with the crimes after a tip to Crime Stoppers and further investigation by BSO led police to name them as suspects. They are being held at the Broward County Main Jail.

According to BSO, a group of friends including Gonzalez and Leandro was drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana at a house near the Peter Pan Diner when they decided to rob and beat someone. They left the home and that was when they attacked Cohen, police said.

BSO said the investigation continues, and police hope to make further arrests in connection with the case.

Anyone with information is asked to call Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS (8477).

Were Beatings Hate Crimes?

2 Men Beaten, Robbed In Separate Attacks

VIDEO: Were Beatings Hate Crime? Police are looking into whether two beatings, which left one man in critical condition, were part of a hate crime? http://www.justnews.com/video/19133889/index.html. (After Clicking Enclosed Links, Use Browser Back Button To Return To This Article)

OAKLAND PARK, Fla. -- Police are searching for a man who robbed and beat two victims in Oakland Park in separate incidents on Monday morning.

According to the Broward Sheriff's Office, the first robbery happened at about 1:20 a.m. in the 800 block of East Oakland Park Boulevard near Peter Pan Diner.

Craig Cohen, 48, had just left the diner when someone beat him up and stole some of his property. The victim was severely injured, police said.

A passerby found the victim unconscious and called 911.

On the same evening, 27-year-old David Villanova was also attacked about two miles away, near a 7-Eleven store in the 1500 block of Northeast Fourth Avenue in Fort Lauderdale, BSO said. Police said that victim suffered a skull fracture during the attack.

Cohen remained in critical condition Wednesday and has been unconscious since the attack. Villanova is recovering at home with family. Friends said his injuries are so severe he cannot remember anything right now.

"It's a sad situation. This man who doesn't bother anyone is close to the end of his life right now," said Francine Rubino, a close friend of Cohen.

Police are not sure how many assailants attacked the two men. Investigators are reviewing surveillance video to see if the attackers were caught on tape.

Evidence found at the scene led investigators to believe that both attacks were carried out by the same attacker or group.

"We know that those cases are linked, and we're looking for the assailants," said Dani Moschella of BSO. "One man is still unconscious and one man has a severe head injury. These were brutal attacks. The men were almost killed."

Police are investigating the possible motive behind the attacks.

"Right now, we believe robbery to be the motive, but we are investigating whether these men could have been targeted because of their sexual orientation," Moschella said.

A witness helped police create a sketch of the attacker, who is believed to be between 18 and 20 years old.

Hector Varas, another close friend of Cohen's, pleaded with the public for tips.

"Last Monday was Craig. Tomorrow, it could be you. It could be me," Varas said.

Anyone with information is asked to call Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS (8477).