COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — A third man has been charged in the brutal murder of 71-year-old Allen Levin.
Levin was found dead and wrapped in a blanket inside his Albany Park living room on Jan. 27, according to authorities. Levin's spine had been severed, and he had a large footprint on his back.
Prosecutors allege the violent attack was orchestrated by Michael Bembea, a 24-year-old family friend of Levin's. Levin had helped Bembea's family with money in the past, authorities said.
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Bembea and accomplice Elijah Timatyos, 23, were charged last month with first-degree murder. A third and final suspect, 34-year-old Ioan Lela, was arrested Sunday and extradited to Chicago, court records show.
According to prosecutors, Bembea and Lela in late January drove from their homes in Phoenix, Ariz., to Chicago, where they met up with Timatyos. The trio broke into Levin's home in the 4800 block of North Ridgeway Avenue on Jan. 24, prosecutors said, and Bembea pushed Levin down a flight of stairs.
Timatyos and Lela could hear the man tumble and ask Bembea why he was doing this to him, according to prosecutors.
Lela is accused of trying to suffocate Levin and kicking him in the head. Prosecutor allege Bembea stomped on Levin's back, severing his spine.
The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office ruled Levin's death a homicide, citing multiple fatal injuries due to assault.
After killing Levin, the trio wrapped his body in a blanket and attempted to clean up blood and fingerprints, prosecutors said. The men also rummaged through Levin's home — stealing coins, cash and jewelry, court records show.
In the early hours of Jan. 25, Bembea, Timatyos and Lela checked into a motel on Lincoln Avenue and bought cocaine and marijuana, according to authorities. All three men drove to Phoenix the next day, authorities said.
Cook County Judge Adam Bourgeois Jr. on Feb. 22 ordered Bembea and Timatyos held without bail, citing "the heinous nature of this crime and the age of the victim."
Lela appeared before Bourgeois this week, and was also held without bail.
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