Josef Martin Graven, age 35, who was beaten on the morning of April 24 in Saugstad Park, passed away in the hospital this morning as a result of his injuries.
The four suspects who were arrested at the scene of the assault are still being held in the Placer County Jail without bail. They are Charles David Waldecker, age 24 of Roseville; Matthew Russell Alfonso, age 29 of Roseville; Ninah Tyneil Winnie, female, age 36 of Atwater; and Joseph Alan Ray Smith, age 30 of Roseville. They were originally arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and conspiracy; the Placer County DA’s Office has been notified of the victim’s death so that the appropriate charges can be filed.
At 8:04 a.m. Thursday, April 24, officers responded to Saugstad Park, 100 Buljan Drive, to a report that a group of people were beating a man. The people involved were part of a group of homeless and needy people gathered at the park waiting for a regularly scheduled free breakfast, served by a local charitable organization. When officers arrived, they found Mr. Graven unconscious on the ground with severe injuries from a beating, and contacted another man, Charles Waldecker, nearby who had a stab wound in his back.