The homeless suspect charged in the bludgeoning death of a 23-year-old man found dead in a Queens park was spotted drinking beer near the crime scene, police say.
Zoltan Forai, 44, was arrested for drinking in public after officers saw him downing a beer less than a mile from the crime scene on June 19 -- nine days after the body of 23-year-old Diego Piedrahita was found in the area of Forest Park Drive and Woodhaven Boulevard in Forest Park. He was re-arrested hours later on murder charges and was arraigned Saturday on charges of second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon.
Forai and Piedrahita knew each other, according to a criminal complaint.
Police say that sometime between June 8 and June 9, Forai kicked Piedrahita in his head and body and then used a rock to strike him multiple times in the face and head. Piedrahita, who had numerous skull fractures, died at the scene. It's unclear how long Piedrahita had been dead; police say he was unconscious and unresponsive. The medical examiner ruled the cause of death to be blunt trauma to the head.
"The victim was brutally kicked and bashed in the head with a rock," Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown said Monday.
Police say Forai shaved his beard to distinguish himself from looking like the bearded suspect wanted for questioning in the death of Piedrahita.
He faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted. He was ordered to be held without bail and to return to court on July 2.
