A home in Sun City is tied to two death investigations: an alleged fatal beating of a tenant and a later apparent murder-suicide in which two people died.
George Crater is back in custody on a first-degree murder charge in the death of his tenant, 72-year-old Thomas Galatola. Court records say Crater traveled from Washington to the Phoenix area two years ago and confronted Galatola about unpaid rent. The records describe Crater restraining and beating him. Galatola later died of blunt-force injuries to his head.
A jury found Crater guilty of murder in April, but a judge dismissed the case without prejudice this week. The judge found that Crater’s defense team had not been told about a misconduct investigation involving the sheriff’s detective assigned to the case. Prosecutors refiled the charge, and another judge set a $1 million cash appearance bond. Crater is due back in court next week.
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