A judge in Illinois has issued a 47-year prison sentence to a man convicted of murdering a homeless individual known in Chicago as the “Walking Man” through an arson incident.

On Wednesday, Cook County Judge Timothy Joyce sentenced Joseph Guardia, 30, from Melrose Park, after he entered a guilty plea to first-degree murder related to the death of Joseph Kromelis.

Kromelis, who was well-recognized in the downtown area, gained attention for his continuous presence on the streets of the Loop, characterized by his long, wavy white hair and mustache. He had been featured in various news articles and a documentary, and he once shared with a newspaper that roaming around downtown was simply his way of life.

Details of the case reveal that Guardia poured gasoline over Kromelis and ignited it while Kromelis was sleeping beneath blankets on Lower Wabash Avenue in May 2022. Kromelis suffered critical burns affecting more than half of his body and ultimately succumbed to his injuries in December at the age of 75.

In his defense, Guardia claimed he was unaware that anyone was under the blankets; however, prosecutors pointed out that Kromelis’ head and lower legs were clearly visible. Guardia’s sole rationale for the attack was his admission of being “an angry person.”

Joseph Guardia was represented by the Cook County Public Defender’s Office, which stated that he suffers from mental illness. The defense team attempted to reach a plea deal that would have classified him as guilty but mentally ill, although this effort did not come to fruition.

Just hours after the sentencing, attempts to reach the public defender’s office for additional comments went unanswered.

This brutal act was not the first instance of violence encountered by Kromelis; in 2016, he was hospitalized for weeks following a brutal baseball bat assault, which led to a community fundraising effort on his behalf.

On the day of the sentencing, prosecutors shared a poignant statement from Kromelis’ sister, Erika Singree, who passed away just three days after celebrating her 80th birthday. During her statement, Singree lamented her brother’s death, stating, “My heart is broken. My brother just loved Chicago. He had his routine of walking the streets. He wanted to be left alone. He never hurt anyone. He was an angel with wings.”