PEORIA – A stranger conned his way into the home of a retired Peoria surgeon prior to his stabbing death, State s Attorney Jodi Hoos told the Journal Star.
Robert Ely, 54, was arrested Wednesday in the St. Louis area and charged with murder in the death of 92-year-old William Marshall in early January. Ely, who is from the St. Louis area, is part of a group of people who travel around the region and target the elderly, Hoos said. They start with individuals who usually live alone, are older and have a very distinct scam that they do and, unfortunately, Dr. Marshall was a victim to this, Hoos told the Journal Star. They are very good at conning their way into the house. They are good at getting entry into people s homes. This person, Ely, he pretended that he knew Dr. Marshall and was able to get inside the home.