Killing the Homeless – WTF is Up in This Town?

There seems to be a new trend in Evansville – killing, or attempting to kill homeless people. In two separate cases, Evansville police have charged a total of five people for allegedly doing just that.

In the first case, four local teenagers are charged with killing a homeless man, dumping his body in the Ohio River and then using his debit card to buy snacks at a convenience store.

William Hurt, 18, Deadra Hurt, 19, Harley Wade and Andrea Hurt, both, 16, all residing at 2313 E. Riverside Drive, were booked on charges of murder, robbery, causing serious bodily injury and criminal confinement in the beating and strangling death of Marcus E. Golike, 54, on or around late June 14th or 15th. The four then allegedly dumped his body in the river near Dress Plaza Downtown – And according to police, he was supposedly a family friend!

Golike, who just got out of jail after serving a two-year sentence for burglary, listed his address as the Evansville Rescue Mission, according to police.

Evansville Police Department Detective Jeff Vantlin said that on June 20 he received a call from Debbie Hurt, who said Golike's mother had been her foster parent.

Debbie Hurt told police Golike came to her house and ate supper and then stayed up and played chess with her son, William Hurt. She said he was gone when she woke up the next morning.

Detective Vantlin said Debbie Hurt runs a foster care home and brings in troubled juveniles. She had adopted William and Andrea Hurt, and Harley Wade had moved into the home at 2313 E. Riverside Drive within the last month. Jones said Deadra Hurt is Debbie Hurt's biological daughter. He said the youths considered Golike an uncle.

Vantlin spoke to William Hurt, who said Golike was last at the house several days earlier than what his mother had told police, and he left without saying where he was going, according to the affidavits. The detective reported William Hurt's hand was scraped and swollen, but he said he punched a tree while angry.

According to the arrest affidavits, William Hurt admitted to police that he participated in killing Golike. He told police one of the juveniles woke him up and told him they were going to do something. He said they got into his mother's van and drove until they saw Golike walking along Weinbach Avenue. At that point, they stopped the van and started talking to Golike.

William Hurt told police that when Golike got upset with remarks made by Wade, he returned similar remarks to the juvenile. Then Wade got out of the van and hit Golike in the face twice, knocking him down.

At that point, William Hurt said he also got out and struck Golike more than five times in the face and torso. He said Golike did not fight back and held his hand in front of his face to protect himself.

They continued striking Golike, according to the affidavit, and then Wade got on top of him and choked him until he was unconscious.

William Hurt told police Golike's body was limp when they put him in the van and tied his hands and feet with a sheet. He said they drove to Dress Plaza, waded into the river and put Golike's body in the water, according to the affidavit.

He said they then drove to a Kangaroo Express and used Golike's debit card to buy about $30 worth of soft drinks, chips and candy. He said they went home, collaborated on their stories and went to bed.

Police said Deadra Hurt admitted being present when Golike was killed and corroborated William Hurt's story.

Jones said Debbie Hurt is not believed to be involved in the murder.

In a second case, a man is suspected of being a serial stabber of homeless people.

Evansville Police arrest 49-year old Brian K. Powers, a man they had questioned as a "Person of Interest" in connection with a stabbing of a homeless person late Sunday night, EPD believes Powers is the same person who repeatedly stabbed a homeless person sleeping on a bench at the METS Transfer Station and also stabbed two other homeless persons who were sleeping at Dress Plaza last week. Police say says all three victims are expected to survive.

The homeless are often victims of society to begin with. Being homeless is not necessarily that individual’s fault. And whether that is an accurate statement or not, no one deserves brutality and violence like that which has been noted in these two separate cases.

Photos of all suspects are below - posted in an effort to shame them for all of their alleged horrific behavior!