COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — Prosecutors have upgraded charges against the reportedly homeless man accused of beating his friend to death inside a Rogers Park elevator last month.
Phalyon McFarthing, 45, was arrested Jan. 23 and charged with aggravated battery, attempted murder and criminal sexual assault following a brutal elevator attack that landed longtime friend, 61-year-old Algie Ferguson, in the hospital with critical injuries. Ferguson's son previously told DNAinfo that McFarthing was homeless and that Ferguson was allowing him to stay in his apartment to avoid the cold.
Ferguson died six days later, on Jan. 29, according to Assistant State's Attorney April Gonzales, who spoke during a bond hearing Thursday.
McFarthing now faces a first-degree murder charge.
According to prosecutors, McFarthing and Ferguson got into an argument sometime before 11:45 p.m. on Jan. 23 inside Ferguson's home in the 6800 block of North Sheridan Road.
McFarthing — who was visiting Ferguson and his girlfriend at their Rogers Park apartment — asked Ferguson if he could borrow money, prosecutors said. The men had been friends for several years.
Algie Ferguson (l.) and son Randy (r.) enjoying a moment together since reconnecting after 20 years. On Jan. 23, Algie Ferguson was violently beaten by a friend and later died of his injuries.
Ferguson agreed to the loan, but said he needed to get the cash from a nearby CVS, according to an arrest report. The men headed to CVS, leaving behind Ferguson's girlfriend.
When they returned about 45 minutes later, the girlfriend heard a loud argument and scuffle coming from the hallway, police said.
McFarthing then walked into the woman's apartment, his hands covered in blood, and told her he was going to kill Ferguson, Gonzales said. McFarthing headed back out, and a building manager who'd heard the fight called 911.
When police arrived about 11:45 p.m., they found McFarthing punching Ferguson inside an elevator on the fifth floor, prosecutors said.
Ferguson was unresponsive, and his pants and underwear were pulled down around his knees, according to Gonzales.
Ferguson was rushed to St. Francis Hospital, where he was diagnosed with significant brain trauma, a broken nose, a partially lacerated ear and anal trauma. His eventual death was ruled a homicide.
After he was arrested, McFarthing admitted to punching Ferguson, stomping on Ferguson's head and sexually assaulting him, Gonzales said. According to police, McFarthing did not have any visible injuries at the time of his arrest.
Ferguson's son told DNAinfo that his father knew McFarthing and had befriended him about five years ago when McFarthing, a homeless man, needed a place to stay. On the night of his murder, the son said his father was letting McFarthing sleep at his apartment that he shared with his girlfriend so McFarthing could avoid the cold. McFarthing reportedly told Ferguson's girlfriend that Ferguson had tried to rob him.
Cook County Judge Donald Panarese Jr. on Thursday agreed to reduce McFarthing's bail to $1 million. McFarthing, of the 1500 block of West Pratt Boulevard, had previously been held without bail.
