Hearing continued in Brownsville beating death
A preliminary hearing for a Brownsville man police allege beat an elderly man to death last year was continued Monday.
Brownsville police said John Godines, 35, was charged last week before Magisterial District Judge Mike Defino Jr. with criminal homicide, aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and disorderly conduct for allegedly killing John Eicholtz, 75, also of Brownsville, in November.
Godines was initially charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and disorderly conduct after police said he attacked Eicholtz outside a residence on High Street on Nov. 15. Those charges, however, were withdrawn and the new set of charges were filed.
Fayette County District Attorney Jack R. Heneks Jr. said the charges were updated and refiled after investigators had a chance to review autopsy results for Eicholtz.
He noted that Eicholtz died as a result of trauma suffered in the attack.
Police said they found Eicholtz suffering injuries to his face and head the night of the beating.
He was taken by ambulance to Monongahela Valley Hospital in Carroll Township for treatment and later transferred to UPMC-Mercy hospital in Pittsburgh for additional care, where he later died.
Police said they secured a warrant for Godines’ arrest on Nov. 21 and took him into custody without incident.
According to investigators, the assault was the result of a bizarre love triangle in which Godines believed Eicholtz was sleeping with his girlfriend, who is in her 20s.
Additionally, much of the assault was captured on video surveillance from a nearby business, police said. Godines was remains in Fayette County Prison without bond following his arraignment.
A new hearing has been set for 2 p.m. Monday before Defino.