A Chicago man has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for beating another man with a Grey Goose vodka bottle during a robbery on the Northwest Side.
Prosecutors say Oscar Cruz, 45, and Peter Krzystyniak, 55, were homeless when they entered a shed in the 5700 block of West Diversey Avenue on October 1, 2023. Surveillance video showed Cruz entering and exiting the structure several times, but Krzystyniak was never seen leaving, officials claimed.
According to prosecutors, Cruz attacked Krzystyniak late that night or early the next morning, beating him in the head many times with a Grey Goose vodka bottle. A worker in the neighborhood later discovered Krzystyniak’s body inside the shed.
The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled that he died as a result of blunt force trauma to the skull and brain.
Chicago police officers arrested Cruz several hours after discovering the corpse. Prosecutors said he was carrying Krzystyniak’s backpack, phone, computer, and wallet when he was arrested. During questioning, Cruz allegedly agreed to punching Krzystyniak with the bottle but claimed he did so after being pushed.
On October 30, a jury convicted Cruz on three counts of first-degree murder and one count of robbery. Judge Mariano Reyna has now sentenced Cruz to 40 years in prison, keeping him there until July 2063.
Leave a Reply