Judge rejects man's self-defense claims in Naperville roommate slaying
Grant Muren believed he was acting in self-defense as he struggled with and killed the older, much larger Charles Clark on the night of Jan. 20, 2014. But that belief and fear, a DuPage County judge ruled Wednesday night, was unwarranted.
Judge Brian Telander concluded the bench trial that began Aug. 23 late Wednesday by finding Muren, 24, guilty of second degree murder in the strangulation death of 55-year-old Clark and guilty of aggravated and residential arson for the three small fires he set in Clark's Naperville townhouse after the murder.
Telander found Muren not guilty of robbery and not guilty of concealment of a homicide.
“On Jan. 20, 2014, Charles Clark's life came to a violent end at the hands of his new roommate, Grant Muren,” DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a written statement. “While Charles is no longer with his family, friends and those who loved him, perhaps today's guilty verdict and the knowledge of knowing that the man responsible for his death will be held accountable, they will be able to gain some measure of closure in this horrific chapter in their lives.”
Muren's attorney Paul DeLuca praised Telander's handling of the lengthy proceedings.
“We think it's self-defense, but I think the judge gave us a very fair trial and it's a fair ruling,” defense attorney Paul DeLuca said outside the courtroom.
Telander praised both the prosecution and defense attorneys during his ruling and said he was guided “quite a bit” by the physical evidence and expert testimony. But he couldn't ignore testimony and evidence presented that painted Clark as a violent man when he drank.
“The evidence shows that Mr. Clark, when intoxicated, something changes,” Telander said, comparing Clark to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. “Mr. Clark is not on trial, but I do have to consider his violent past. And at the time of the autopsy, (Clark's BAC) was twice the legal limit to drive.”
Prosecutors alleged Muren and Clark met in early January 2014, when Muren answered Clark's online ad seeking a roommate.
On Jan. 20, Muren signed the lease paperwork and paid Clark $950 to cover the first month's rent and security deposit before moving into the townhouse on the 1100 block of Vail Court in Naperville's Estes Park neighborhood.
Within hours the men purchased a large bottle of brandy, ate chicken, played video games and had a consensual sexual encounter in the loft, Assistant State's Attorney Enza LaMonica said.
An argument ensued, however, after Clark showered. LaMonica said Muren was ordered to leave the townhouse but refused.
“They engaged in sexual encounter. There was no rape. They had consensual sex,” LaMonica said. “This is a case of buyer's remorse. The defendant says, 'I was kinda into it,' but (Clark) told him to get out.”
A short time later, she said, Muren smashed Clark over the head, from behind, several times with a wooden tray table as Clark sat at a desk. Eventually Clark was strangled to death.
“(Clark) was beaten to a bloody pulp. He had swollen eyes, a swollen nose. The bruises on his head and injuries to his neck were extensive, indicative of someone who was in the fight for his life,” LaMonica said. “(Muren) broke (Clark's) bone under his muscle near the back of his neck. If that's not intent to kill, I don't know what is. Then he watched the life be drained out of this man's body.”
Muren then took back the $950 from Clark's nightstand and fled.
Muren was apprehended three days later by police officers after a car he was traveling in was pulled over for a traffic violation. He has remained in custody since then, held on $2 million bail.
Upon entering the home, authorities smelled natural gas and found the burners on and the oven doors left open. Lease papers and blood-soaked Lysol wipes packed the inside of the oven. A small toaster fire burned some kitchen cabinets. Clark's partially nude body was in the upstairs bedroom, wearing only underwear and shorts.
“The evidence shows he wanted to blow the place down,” LaMonica said. “He started the fires to make sure this guy was dead. That's intent to kill.”
DeLuca, however, focused his closing arguments on Clark's alleged history of violent alcoholism and painted Clark as the aggressor who sexually assaulted Muren. Clark's ex-wife and a recent girlfriend testified that Clark drank heavily four days a week and got “mean” when he did so.
“I'm sorry for any family in the courtroom, but Charles Clark got what he deserved that night. That man started a fight,” DeLuca said. “There's a common theme to Clark and it's brandy and violence. No question about it. Of course this guy's an alcoholic.”
Muren's sentencing date will likely be set at his next court appearance on Oct. 21. He faces a total of between six and 30 years in prison on the two guilty findings.