Four Charged In Fatal Frying Pan Beating Of 64-Year-Old Hosting Birthday Party

By Mae Rice in News on Feb 18, 2016 8:40PM



Alexander Robinson, 28, left, Shatrata Lehmann, 25, right, are two of the four charged in relation to the death of Cary “Mike” Silverstein. (Chicago Police Department)

Four people face charges for beating a West Rogers Park man to death in December. The homicide, which prosecutors allege began with an insult at a party and ended with the group beating the man with a frying pan, took place at the victim's apartment.

Cary “Mike” Silverstein, 64, was murdered on Dec. 10, but his body has yet to be found. Officials were made aware of Silverstein’s disappearance when his sister filed a missing person report on Dec. 16, according to the Tribune. The murder allegedly took place at Silverstein’s home, where he was hosting a birthday party.

Based on an order from Judge Donald Panarese Jr., one suspect—Shawndre Lehmann, age 17—is now being held on a first-degree murder charge, with his bail set at $1 million. So far, three other suspects have been charged.

Alexander Robinson, age 28, faces a murder charge, and Shatrata Lehmann, age 25, faces a felony concealing homicide charge. The two are dating, according to the Sun-Times. A third person was charged in relation to the homicide, as a juvenile, the Sun-Times reports, but information on this boy was not available.

Before Lehmann got to the party, a man punched Silverstein for insulting the guest’s girlfriend, prosecutors said. The guest left the party, then returned as Lehmann was arriving. The guest, Lehmann, and a person Lehmann arrived with proceeded to beat Silverstein to death by punching and kicking him, and by hitting him with a frying pan.

The group then allegedly made a plan, collaborating with the guest’s girlfriend, for disposing of the body. They cleaned the frying pan, and threw away Silverstein’s clothes in one dumpster, and his body in another, prosecutors told to the Tribune.

Prosecutors' allegations are based on witness testimony as well as a videotaped confession Lehmann made once he was arrested, according to Tribune reports.