Ugh. This is one of those stories that makes you sick to your stomach.
The story began in Rochester, N.Y., this summer, as comic collector Homer Marciniak was trying to sell his comic book collection. It was valued at anywhere from $40,000 to $100,000, according to reports from the Associated Press.
The problem was that Marciniak told that to tavern owner Rico Vendetti — and was subsequently beaten and robbed in his apartment. While Marciniak, a 77-year-old bachelor, survived the incident, he had a heart condition that manifested into cardiac arrest later that night after talking with police.
Not only were all of his comics stolen, but things get even more sad — Marciniak apparently was trying to sell his books to give the money to his sister and nephew. The books haven’t even been recovered yet.
Apparently this week, however, a woman charged with prostitution led police to Vendetti and 17-year-old Juan Javier, who were each charged with burglary. Both were charged with $100,000 bail — Vendetti has since ponied up the cash, while Javier is currently in jail.
Police still are searching for the missing comics. “I was hoping to get a lucky break for Homer,” Medina Police Chief Jose Avila said. “He could not handle losing those comic books. To him, they were priceless.”
October 20th, 2010 at 6:36 am
My sympathies and hopes to Mr. Marciniak.
I’m guessing that there’s other shows of support in the works already, not yet publicized?
Anyone?
October 20th, 2010 at 7:03 am
“Not only were all of his comics stolen, but things get even more sad…”
I would consider the most sad part was the fact that he died, not the lost of the comics.
October 20th, 2010 at 7:35 am
They should have been charged with murder in addition to burglary if you ask me. If they did not rob and beat him he would not have had that cardiac arrest right when he did, so the way I see it, they are directly responsible for his death.
October 20th, 2010 at 9:05 am
@justsaying
The sentence that you quoted makes exactly the point that you are trying to say it didn’t make.
Comics stolen=sad. Man died=”even more sad”.
See?
October 20th, 2010 at 10:45 am
Wow. I live in Rochester and this is the first I’ve heard about this. I’m gonna ask the guy at my LCS if he remembers this guy. Such a shame.
October 20th, 2010 at 11:46 am
@fred
The quote reads:
“Not only were all of his comics stolen, but things get even more sad — Marciniak apparently was trying to sell his books to give the money to his sister and nephew.”
Sad = stole comics; more sad = lose of revenue.
neither was the lose of his life.
See?
October 20th, 2010 at 3:24 pm
Did he die? The article doesnt specifiacally say that he did. Cardiac arrest does not necessarily mean dead. Reading FTW.
October 20th, 2010 at 7:44 pm
@Dave
If you follow the link to the AP story, it says that he died later.
October 21st, 2010 at 8:20 am
This really upsets me. Yes he passed due to cardiac arrest but it was from a pre existing heart condition not due to the burglary. I find it fishy that they have not recovered the comic book collection.Don’t you think that because of it being tied to a collectables shop that they would be there and also usually when collectables are sold there is a record of what it was and who bought them.
October 21st, 2010 at 6:45 pm
I really feel bad #1 He should of known some low life hang at Bar’s.#2 Is there a fund or something to help this Guy out.I give a few doller if so.