In October, we brought you the news that four men were being investigated for the murder of Homer Marciniak, 77, after breaking into his Medina, New York home last July 5 to steal his comic book collection.  Rico J. Vendetti, 41, a Rochester businessman, was charged last year with hiring people to break into the home and steal the comics, but a federal grand jury has now indicted Vendetti and three other people for murder.  Arlene Combs, 26; Albert Parsons, 42; and Donald Griffin, 23 are being charged along with Vendetti.

All four could face mandatory life in prison if found guilty.  Vendetti and Combs also face previously filed charges of racketeering and witness-tampering, to which they have pleaded not guilty.

Police have said the thieves broke into the home in the early morning after cutting the phone lines.  When Marciniak surprised the thieves he was beaten up.  Marciniak was treated at a hospital and released.  After going home, he suffered a heart attack.

The comic book collection has an estimated value of $40,000.

A Rochester, NY business man has been arrested and charged with orchestrating the heist of an expensive comic book collection from an elderly village man in July.  The victim was assaulted and later died of a heart attack.  Rico J. Vendetti is charge with first degree burglary.  Vendetti owns a restaurant and collectibles business.

Vendetti owns Papa Van’s Restaurant and Irondequoit Collectibles and is accused of hiring two men to rob the location providing details.  The owner confronted the burglars and was struck.  He later died of a heart attack.

The victim was able to tell police his comic collection was stolen along with several safes, cash, coins, handguns and rifles.  The police hadn’t given up on the case focusing in on the comic book collection.  A recent tip lead them to their suspect.

Juan C. Javier, 17, of Rochester also was charged with first-degree burglary, a class B felony punishable by up to 25 years in state prison.  A woman solicited by Vendetti is in Monroe County Jail on unrelated charges.  The police believe at least seven people were involved in the heist.