Man Sentenced to 47 Years for Killing Chicago's 'Walking Man' in Arson Attack

Joseph Guardia pleaded guilty to the murder of Joseph Kromelis, a well-known figure in downtown Chicago, by setting him on fire while he slept.

Joseph Guardia, 30, received a 47-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to the murder of Joseph Kromelis, known as the 'Walking Man' of Chicago.
Kromelis, a familiar presence in downtown Chicago, was attacked in May 2022 while sleeping on a sidewalk, and died from his injuries months later.
Guardia claimed he did not know a person was under the blankets when he set them on fire, but prosecutors argued Kromelis' head and legs were visible.
Guardia has a history of mental illness and previous run-ins with the law, but a plea of guilty but mentally ill was not accepted by prosecutors.
The attack on Kromelis, who had survived a previous assault in 2016, highlighted the vulnerabilities faced by unhoused individuals in urban areas.