Hate, Violence, and Death on Main Street USA - National Coalition ...

HATE, VIOLENCE, AND DEATH ON MAIN STREET USA2008The case summaries of violent acts committed against homeless individuals were gathered from avariety of sources. These sources included, but were not limited to, three main areas: publishednarratives found in news reports, information gathered by homeless advocates across the country,<strong>and</strong> self-reported incidents from homeless or formerly homeless individuals. While we could notalways identify the motives behind each attack based on our sources of information, some of theseattacks were perpetrated due to a bias against the victim because of his or her homeless status.Other attacks may have been perpetrated merely because the homeless person was in a vulnerableposition to be attacked, due to the nature of homelessness. Only attacks committed by housedindividuals toward homeless individuals were included; crimes committed by homeless individualstoward other homeless individuals were excluded from this report.CASE DESCRIPTIONS OF DEATHS BY MONTH, DATE, AND CITY IN2008:TOTAL DEATHS: 27FEBRUARYFrederick, Maryl<strong>and</strong>Homeless Man MurderedFebruary 14: William Sigler, 49, a repeat offender of assault, drug possession, recklessendangerment, sexual assault, <strong>and</strong> battery, was found guilty of the fatal attack of Samuel WebsterHood Jr., 57, a homeless man living in Frederick. Police were called to respond to an unconsciousHood with his skull cracked open from the attack. Authorities report evidence of strangulation <strong>and</strong>severe trauma to the head <strong>and</strong> neck from repeated assault. A witness reportedly saw Sigler st<strong>and</strong>ingover Hood shouting to call 911, but said Sigler left before authorities arrived.Evidence found at the scene showed blood marks on the wall of the alley as well as on awindowsill. Police were led to Sigler’s apartment, where a search produced blood spatteredsneakers, blue jeans, <strong>and</strong> a hat.In December, Sigler pleading guilty to second-degree murder Sigler was sentenced by CountyCircuit Court Judge G. Edward Dwyer Jr. to 30 to 50 years in the Maryl<strong>and</strong> Division of Correction.The Frederick News-Post reported, “It was the maximum sentence Dwyer could h<strong>and</strong> down.” Aftertrial, there remains to be no motive for the crime. When Sigler was told that the victim was SammyHood, he said, “Oh him, he’s just a beggar, a vagrant.”MARCHRichmond, CaliforniaTwo Homeless Men Attacked <strong>and</strong> Robbed in Separate Incidences on the Same Morning62