CHICAGO (WLS) — Family members said Tony Landers was suffering from lung cancer, and his sister, Kim Landers, was his caregiver.
Kim told ABC7 she went to his South Shore apartment on Monday to check on him, but she didn't know she would be walking into a crime scene.
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“So, I opened the back door and when I looked down, I saw a red footprint,” Kim said.
Just before noon on Monday, the family visit became a heartache for the family.
“I look again, and I see another red fingerprint,” Kim said. “And then I saw my brother lying there. I saw blood all over the door.”
Kim, who asked ABC7 not to show her face, said she found her 61-year-old brother murdered inside his South Shore apartment, where he lived alone, at 71st Street and East End.
“I started calling his name and calling his name. I said: 'Someone killed him!' Someone killed him!” There was blood everywhere!” Kim said.
He couldn't defend himself. He was weak. He was sick
Family members say Tony was beaten to death and hit in the head several times with blunt objects. They told ABC7 they believe his attackers were people he knew.
“To kill an innocent person, a disabled person. He wasn't able to defend himself. He was weak and sick,” said Melissa Winston, the victim's sister.
Tony is diagnosed with lung cancer in 2022. He has become weak over the years after becoming mute when his voice box had to be removed.
Now, his family pledges to be his voice in the wake of his murder.
“I feel bad that my brother had to die this way. He didn't deserve it,” Melissa said.
Police say they are looking for several suspects. So far, no one is in custody.
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