Man Beaten, Killed In Downtown Apartment

A man found bludgeoned to death in his downtown apartment Sunday was the third victim to die in a bloody weekend in Spokane.

Robert Gladden, 43, died at the Bel Franklin Apartments at Division and Spokane Falls Boulevard shortly before noon.

Gladden had been caring for the elderly tenant of the apartment for the past few months. He was staying there with the man, who is in his 70s, neighbors said.

The elderly tenant, whose name has not been released, wasn’t home when Gladden’s body was found and has not returned, said manager Phil Hammock.

“He’s gone,” Hammock said. “I don’t know where he could’ve gone. … He can hardly get around.”

Police said there is no obvious cause of death but are investigating the death as a homicide.

Tenants, however, said Gladden had been hit on the back of the head - a blow that bloodied walls and chairs and left “very obvious damage” to the victim.

“He was there at the kitchen table,” said one tenant, who returned home shortly after the body had been found. “His head was smashed in.”

Police detective Roger Bays and Sgt. Jim Lundgren refused to comment on the case. No arrests have been made, and an autopsy will be performed this week.

Police also released little information on a murder-suicide on the North Side.

Patricia Lorenz, 73, and her son, Kevin Lorenz, 41, were found dead at her house in the 4900 block of North Madison shortly after 9 a.m. Saturday.

Both had been shot, police said.

Neighbors said Patricia Lorenz had lived at the house for the past 12 years and worked on her lawn or garden almost daily.

When they didn’t see her for a few days, someone called police to check on her welfare.

It is unclear when the deaths occurred. Police said it appears Lorenz, 2225 E. 63rd, shot his mother and then himself.

Several hours later, a man was stabbed twice at a downtown apartment building, possibly by another tenant.

The victim, whose name has not been released, was listed in serious condition at Sacred Heart Medical Center.

Police said the man was stabbed in a second-floor apartment about 7 p.m. He then climbed the stairs to the third floor, where he collapsed. A third-floor resident called police.

No arrests have been made.

Detectives said the victim is not cooperating with the investigation.

, DataTimes