Beating Victim Dies; Murder Charge Filed

Tue., May 2, 1995

From Staff Reports

A 33-year-old Spokane man died Monday after he had been beaten into unconsciousness Sunday.

After Greg L. Cheatham’s death, the charge against his alleged attacker was upgraded from assault to first-degree murder, said Dick Cottam, a Spokane Police Department spokesman.

Michael R. O’Neil, 4404 S. Sheri Court, was arrested late Sunday after Cheatham, 720 N. Monroe, had been taken to Deaconess Medical Center with severe head injuries.

A woman found Cheatham unconscious in his apartment building, Cottam said. Cheatham’s roommate told police Cheatham had owed the suspect money.

O’Neil, 25, remained in the Spokane County Jail late Monday without bond.

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