Info sought in brutal killing of 83-year-old man

Police: Elderly man set on fire in home

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Police in Jacksonville are asking for the public's help in providing any information regarding what they call the brutal killing of an 83-year-old man in his home Tuesday night.

Robert Levey's body was found after it was set on fire in his home in the 3600 block of Mimosa Drive on the Southside. Police are not saying how he died.

"I can tell you this: It was a brutal murder in that house behind me," Lt. Rob Schoonover said at a news conference outside the home Thursday.

IMAGES: House fire kills homeowner

Schoonover did say the cause of death will be key in the investigation.

Investigators said they're looking for a young man in his teens or 20s who was seen running from the home. They're asking people in the neighbor hood if they saw anything that the suspect would give off signs.

"We kind of feel someone would know something about this if they had a relative or friend in changes in physical appearance, acting strangely the last couple of days," Schoonover said. "We would be glad to receive that information and work that tip."

Neighbors are still upset. They were friends Levey, whom they knew as the cat man. They said he took care of strays and always had nice words for everyone.

"Anything you need he would give to you," neighbor Judy Moran said. "I hope they get who did this."

"They might have seen something that night and might not think it's important," Schoonover said. "Any little tip they saw, someone two or three blocks from here fitting that description. He had some injuries on him, cuts, bruises."

If anyone has information about the killing, call the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office at 904-630-0500 or Crime Stoppers at 866-845-TIPS.


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Jim Piggott is the reporter to count on when it comes to city government and how it will affect the community.