Brothers aged 11 and 15 ‘helped pummel beloved dad to death’
Two brothers aged 11 and 15 have been arrested over claims they helped pummel a beloved father to death.
The boys – who haven’t been named because of their ages – were taken into custody on Wednesday in connection to the brutal beating of Tod Alan Barker, 53, in Portland, Oregon last month.
His daughter, Bethanie Montgomery, said to CBS 6 that Barker was walking at night when he was attacked after helping a group of homeless people.
‘He helped them,’ she said. ‘He gave them some money to get food. He even gave his coat that he was wearing to one of them.’
The suspects allegedly tried to steal from him, but didn’t make off with anything, investigators said.
Barker was rushed to the hospital where a few weeks later, where he died from his injuries.
‘He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time,’ his daughter said.
She said that her father did not seek treatment for several days, and he needed help with eating and walking, until he eventually collapsed on the kitchen floor.
He was a newlywed and his wife is pregnant with twins.
A 16-year-old boy was also arrested on Monday and charged with murder, assault, robbery and the unlawful use of a weapon.
The father’s death has been ruled a homicide and it is not yet clear if the boys will be charged as adults.
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