Famous Chicago homeless person 'The Walking Man', 75, dies seven months after thug doused him in gas

A homeless Chicago man known as 'The Walking Man' has died from horrific injuries he sustained nearly seven months after being set on fire while sleeping in a heap of blankets outside of Trump Tower.

Joseph Kormelis, 75, a fixture in the Chicago neighborhood and branded 'The Walking Man,' for walking miles a day around the downtown area - something he had done for decades - died on Sunday at 4.08pm, the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office revealed. 

Kormelis sustained burns to more than 50 percent of his body when Joseph Guardia, 27, allegedly poured a flammable liquid on his head and set him ablaze in the May 25, 2022 attack.

Guardia was later arrested and charged with attempted first-degree murder and arson, according to the Chicago Police Department. He was identified by cops with his memorable dollar-sign face tattoo.

Also, known for his long gray bushy hair, gray mustache, and sports coat, Kormelis wasn't expected to survive, but in September was transferred to a rehab center. 

It wasn't clear if his death was a result of the attack, but an autopsy was scheduled for Monday.

Kormelis, known for his trademark long gray hair, mustache and sport coat, was a fixture in the downtown Chicago neighborhood and branded the 'walking man' for his frequent romps around the city streets over the last few decades

Suspect Joseph Guardia, 27, poured gasoline on  Kormelis' head and set him ablaze. He was;ater charged with attempted first degree murder and arson. Guardia told cops he didn't know there was a man under the pile of blankets

The prosecutor said there was no history between the two men before the attack that took place at 400 block of North Lower Wabash Avenue.

Guardia told police that he had found a McDonald's cup full of gasoline and decided he wanted to set something on fire.

He claimed not to know that Kormelis was under the blankets despite surveillance footage showing his arms and legs sticking out from the covering. 

Assistant State Attorney Danny Hanichak said Guardia 'was an angry person and decided he was going to set something on fire.'

'He said he was going to burn some trash,' Hanichak said. 

According to the prosecutor, moments after the heinous act Kormelis stood up and began thrashing around trying to put the flames out as Guardia fled the scene.

Despite his attempt to extinguish the flames, Kormelis was engulfed in flames as the fire spread to his lower torso. It lasted for at least three minutes until a security guard noticed the shocking scene on his surveillance monitor and rushed out with a fire extinguisher to help the burning man, the prosecutor added. 

He was rushed to Stroger Hospital with 'severe burns to more than 50 percent of his body,' prosecutor said. 

He added, that 'he is not expected to recover.'

The prosecutor said there was no history between the two men. Guardia told police that he had found a McDonald's cup full of gasoline and decided he wanted to set something on fire

Assistant State's Attorney Danny Hanichak said Guardia 'was an angry person and decided he was going to set something on fire.' 'He said he was going to burn some trash,' Hanichak said

Police released this video surveillance footage of Joseph Guardia sporting a hoodie with the words 'HOOD RICH' printed on the front. This is believed to be after he set Kormelis on fire

The suspect, who was arrested on May 27 said he had no mal intent toward Kormelis during the police interrogation.

'The defendant did not provide any specific motive other than being an angry person,' the Assistant State attorney said.

'It takes a special kind of evil to do what the defendant did in this case. For 16 seconds he stood over the victim at close range. His statement that he didn't know a person was there is outrageous and is a lie,' Hanichak said.

'This defendant chose to pour gasoline on a human being and then set him on fire leaving him to burn alive for three minutes. One can only imagine the pain and suffering the victim experienced in those three minutes.

'This defendant did not target someone who he had an argument with, or someone who wronged him, or someone that he even knew. This defendant decided to target the most vulnerable person possible.

'A 75-year-old homeless man sleeping on the street. In 16 years of prosecuting cases I've never seen a video so horrific.

Joseph Kormelis, 75, a fixture in the Chicago neighborhood and branded 'The Walking Man,' for walking miles a day around the downtown area - something he had done for decades

Kormelis was so much a part of Chicago that he appeared in the street art around the city

Kormelis was raised in a big family in Chicago. He tried his hand at various jobs, but mostly peddled jewelry on the street

Kormelis who was also known as 'The Walking Dude,' was raised in Chicago and had a big family.

A beloved character who was considered by Chicagoans as part of the city landscape.

He sold jewelry on the street and had lived in a single-room apartment until his home was converted to a luxury apartment building.

In the past, he was compared to the Greek composer Yani or actor Richard Gere. 

He was attacked at random once before in 2016, when he was also hospitalized, but eventually recovered.