Transient Man Pleads Not Guilty In Venice Local's Beating Death

VENICE, CA — A transient man charged with murder and elder abuse in the beating death of photographer John DeCindis pleaded not guilty Thursday during a preliminary hearing.

Obie Dewan Thompson, 45, was charged with murder and elder abuse in connection with the beating and subsequent death of DeCindis. Thompson's next court date will be April 29. His bail was set at $2,160,000.

DeCindis died on Feb. 27. He was followed and attacked near the Brig in the 1500 block of Abbot Kinney Boulevard after he was confronted and followed by the suspect from Abbot Kinney Boulevard and Milwood Avenue, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

Officers from the Pacific Division began investigating the assault on Feb. 28, officials said.

"LAPD Officers completed a death report and an investigation was launched into the victim's death," police said.

A West Bureau Homicide Detectives' investigation revealed that DeCindis told a hospital social worker that he was assaulted but that he did not want to make a police report, officials said.

"The assault had occurred when Mr. John DeCindis had been walking his dog and he was attacked by a man he had seen previously in the neighborhood," police said.

No apparent motive was connected to the attack, police said.

"DeCindis was hospitalized with several fractures and when he was released from the hospital, he had to return some time later due to having difficulty recovering from the injuries," police said. "DeCindis had told others about the assault and had also described the suspect to those same people."

The Angeles County Coroner's Office determined that DeCindis' death was a homicide on March 4.

Detectives provided a suspect description and observed the suspect near Milwood Avenue and Abbot Kinney Boulevard, police said.

"Officers detained the suspect, later identified as 45-year-old Obie Thompson, a person experiencing homelessness," police said.

Thompson was booked on suspicion of murder and elder abuse March 11. He was held on $2M bail and will be arraigned.

Ingrid Boon told Patch that the attack on DeCindis, her friend, has left her and others devastated.

The longtime Venice local also warns that these types of attacks could happen again.

"I think it is important for people to know the area is not safe and it will happen again," Boon said.

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