Martin Vega
How many of you out there have had a landlord you couldn’t stand? I mean a landlord who was just so mean, or lazy, or money hungry that you could have just killed him?
Martin Vega here knows exactly how you feel. When his landlord, William Hallin, 67, came to collect his rent, Vega, 28, tried to beg off, telling Hallin he wasn’t going to pay up that day. This was not the first time he was late with his rent, and there were other problems with Martin Vega’s short, 2 month tenancy. Hallin had recently accused him of stealing some of his garden tools, and Vega had also shot out the windows of several neighborhood cars with a BB gun.
While the two men discussed the lack of funds at the door of Martin Vega’s second floor apartment in the Southwest Side of Chicago, Hallin noticed that Vega was keeping a dog in his apartment. Apparently this was the last straw for Martin Vega. Hallin told him he was going to have to move out. That was definitely the last straw for William Hallin.
Martin Vega pushed Hallin down the stairs, then beat Hallin’s head and body with various garden tools, an ice scraper, a BB gun and a pipe. Vega dragged Hallin to the basement, where Hallin began to cry and beg for his life. To shut him up, Vega shoved a shirt in his landlord’s mouth, then beat his skull with a lamp.
Someone noticed smoke coming from the basement of the two story apartment building and called 911. Firefighters found the charred and smoking remains of William Hallin. Martin Vega had put Hallin’s body on a rug, threw gasoline from a lawn mower on the rug and on Hallin, and took a match to the whole thing.
Police took Vega and two other people down to the headquarters for questioning. After an autopsy confirmed that William Hallin had died from blunt force trauma to the head, Martin Vega was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. Prosecutors in Cook County recently announced the will seek the death penalty in this case.
Martin Vega already has five felony convictions to his credit, including for unlawful use of a weapon, residential burglary and aggravated vehicular hijacking. He’s just one of these career criminals who thinks the law doesn’t apply to him. Looks to me like Chicago law enforcement will have little problem applying the law in this case.
William Hallin, on the other hand, was well like by everyone in the neighborhood, including the other tenants of his two apartment buildings. He had a reputation for being helpful and caring, and often accommodated his people when they ran into hard times and were late with rent.
Rebecca Rangel, a tenant of Hallin’s, couldn’t believe what happened:
“I can’t imagine what would have triggered this. He’s not the type to argue.”
“I’m still shaking my head because I can’t believe it. We didn’t have a problem with him ever. He gave everybody a chance.”
Rangel said the last time she saw William Hallin, he had stopped to say hi to her as she sat out out in the yard watching her daughter catch fireflies. He even took a few minutes to help her little girl with her hunt, catching a few of the tiny insects for her.
“He was just nice.”
Does Martin Vega Deserve The Fires Of Hell?
- Yes (94%, 351 Votes)
- No (6%, 23 Votes)
Total Voters: 374
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82 Comments »
How, after only two months, do you get to the point where your landlord wants to toss you out on your ass? Vega brought everything on himself. No reason to kill the landlord
You should not judge because YOU ARE NOT GOD!!!!! You don’t know his childhood or what caused him to SNAP!!! I’m not saying that what he did was right, but I seriously think he needs to be evaulated by a professional, before anyone but “GOD” should judge him. Two months? Law says take it to court. It could of been avoided, but at the same time “YES HE WAS A TIMEBOMB WATING TO EXPLODE! YOU NEED TO KNOW HIS BACKGROUND BEFORE YOU JUDGE! HE NEEDS TO BE EVALUATED BY A PSYCHYATRIST!!!!!!! Yes he may deserve life, but death? That should be given to his parents!!!!!!!!!!
Gone for a week and “me” tries to disillusion me into thinking I am not a supreme being. Sorry, “me” but you will have to try harder if you want me to step down off my pedestal and stop thinking that I am an arrogant, narrow-minded, sadistic prick >:) I am not judging the man, by the way, dumbass, I am judging his ACTIONS.
What a PoS. Man, the world seems to be full of them lately. By the way, in the 4th paragraph it’s written: “…where Hallin began to cry and beg for his life, Stevens said.” Who is “Stevens”?
I was wondering the same thing – who the heck is Stevens!?
You must be an awful renter for your landlord to be ready to toss you out on the streets in less than two months. The landlord probably wouldn’t have had a problem with the man keeping the dog if Vega had went to him and told him about it & asked permission, or told the landlord that he was trying to find other people that could take the dog in. Most people are very understanding about things like this as long as your up front and honest with them. Sadly, a nice man lost his life to someone that was apparently a time bomb waiting to explode. My condolences go out to the family of Mr. Hallin. Rest in peace Mr. Hallin.
“Martin Vega already has five felony convictions to his credit…”
A walking advertisement for California’s Three Strikes Law, where after your third felony conviction the sentence is a mandatory 25-years-to-life.
And frankly, we don’t care how many people have been imprisoned so far. If that’s the reason the State is going broke, so be it.
He did his time for the felonies. he’s not convicted yet, there’s more to this story. the cops should look closely around.
Why don’t YOU go to the cops with your “knowledge” sam? I mean, are you gonna let your bro Marty burn while you keep quiet and hope the police find it out for themselves?
You people with your “if you knew the real story” comments. Nine times out of ten you offer no facts to back up your statement, and even when you do it’s usually rumor or hearsay. It’s gotten to the point where I can probably post your next comments before you do.
What kind of 28yo goes around shooting windows out of cars with a BB gun? Seriously. Grow the frick up.
And I chuckled at the fact that he was late with the rent. And it wasn’t his first time. And he had only been there two months.
HOLY CRAP, is this the first time you’ve implied that you believe someone might possibly be douche? Or have I skipped too many of your posts? ;D
Most of my comments have to do with other aspects of the story rather than the crime itself. Contrary to popular belief, I find the crimes on here to be grievous. Generally there is no point to beat that into the ground so I focus on other aspects of the story that catch my attention.
Wow. Talk about anger issues. Did he really think that was going to solve his problem so he could stay in that apartment?? LOL He should have been locked up anyways after all those felonies……
HE DID DO HIS TIME FOR HIS FELONIES!!!!!!!!!!!
Honestly mate, you keep protecting someone who is a convicted felon. The rule states that after 3 strikes your out. Regardless of whether the lad did his time or not, the rule still stands. And this lad being 28 years old and shooting car windows with BB guns, thats 2 other charges that could be laid on him, making 7 felonies?? Unlawful discharge of a weapon and vandalism under 5000. Protecting someone that has had more than his fair chances, he should be put away, and murder is murder, burning the body to dispose of the proof shows some sort of premeditation, he knew what he was doing.
- Sometimes I confess that I have to laugh about the “issues” that put these lunatics into such rage. Certainly, I am not laughing at their horrendous actions, just to be clear on that. But I often wonder how these people managed to make it this long considering their propensity for wigging out and freaking over such trivial matters.
I remember I read something about some chick going absolutely bat shit crazy over a poptart, and getting all stabby on someone. – A dang poptart !!!
Maybe I have to find someway to distract myself from the atrocities that these boneheads commit..it’s either that or I cry all day.
Oi vey….
I punched a man over an eggo waffle.. Guess what I said when I decked him.. ???
SNIGGLEFRITZ.. ha… Weren’t expecting THAT, were ya?? .. ahem.. anyway..
all kidding aside I actually get embarassed when I hear stories about people who hurt each other over food.. Wasn’t there a lady who killed her dad over a dinner roll a couple of months back??
Back on topic.. Some people are just a terrible combination of no impulse control, and an extremely short fuse.. If anything I hope this guy’s priors serve to help his conviction along..
Minjofu,
OMG !!! I’m actually laughing out loud, which is rare because I have such a warped, distorted, and yes, very offensive sense of humor. Very few people appreciate it, but your post had me giggling up a hell storm.
I have to laugh at ‘food death’, as it’s come to be known. And yes, I feel a sense of incredible humiliation for all parties involved. Especially the poor soul who gets jacked over a fucking toaster strutel, or a damn fishstick.
I do not recall the woman killing her father over a dinner roll…for god’s sake, though it wouldn’t shock me. I mean come on, is it really the last dinner roll on the planet ? Is there a dinner roll shortage, and if you don’t get your fix the world is going end ?
I remember once I got super pissed at my brother for eating the last Ding Dong many moons ago. But I didn’t kill him…that’s just bananas.
Hi there Maelstrom, just wanted to link you to a youtube video detailing the woman who killed her dad over the dinner roll.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVumqaExFk4&feature=player_embedded#
What a twisted little twerp. He should never be free again, because if he is he will kill others.
To hell with him, express ride!
remember the words you say, they can haunt you
Nine times out of ten, my actions haunt me more than my words, sam. Actions speak louder than words, a picture is worth a thousand words, the analogies go on and on. In the real world, sam, one’s actions are what people remember most. For example… while serving in Kuwait, I said how proud I was to be serving my country and sending the troops home, and then I was accused of writing something on the bathroom wall (destruction of govt. property.) Nobody remembered me as the proud sailor, working hard to give the boys going home an easier time through customs, oh no, they just remember me as The Sharpie Bandit, the asshole who wrote “Life Sucking, MotherFucking Customs” and “23 more days of Hell” on the wall in the latrine. Actions, sam, Actions.
remeber he had a child too. its sad..
there was seriouly somthing wrong with him. bill did nothing to deserve want happened to him. i pray for him and his family everyday.
and his daughter
Shooting out car windows with a BB gun – somebody should have gotten this guy a computer (even a cheap one running Linux would serve the purpose) so he could do better things for society with his time – like jerk off while surfing for porn….
Unfortunately when a nice person “puts their foot down” they are more often the victim of backlash than someone who is usually a jerk.
I am sure that this POS has had many landlords before and most of them were probably real pricks….. and he did not kill them!
What an asshole, man. I say it alot- I will never understand what goes through these people’s heads when they are doing this shit. Seriously, I mean, I hate to move too, but it’s not worth killing someone. It’s people like this that are gonna make background checks on tenants necessecary.
People like Martin Vega should be euthanized IMMEDIATELY. He is a waste of space and air and I don’t think tax payers should pay 1 cent to house or feed this creton. I hope he dies. :)
BTW, isn’t it sad how the Martin Vegas of the world always manage to find the William Hallins of the world? Once, just once, I would love to hear a story of a Martin Vega type meeting a Cheyenne Cherry type…
How can anyone judge him, if they don’t know him. that’s BS
We can judge his actions easily enough. So let’s take a look at those, shall we? Hmm….He’s a five time loser who beat a old man to death and set him on fire. That’s pretty bad. I’d say we know more than enough about Marty to say he’s a piece of shit murdering scumbag. It’ll be very satisfying when a jury give him the needle.
Thanks Max.
For Sam: Thank Goodness I don’t know him. Would you want him as a tenant? I know enough to know he shouldn’t breathe and thats mu opinion :) maybe the world would be a better place if more people thought like we do here at pysih…
OK. you really are retarded aren’t you? How can we judge him if we don’t know him? We judge him by his ACTIONS, you loser. Just like I judge YOU to be a loser based on your action of writing that remarkably idiotic line.
I couldn’t care less about him personally. It makes no difference. He could have been the most wonderful guy in the world (which he clearly wasn’t), but that does not negate his actions. If he helped old ladies across the street and saved puppies from burning buildings in his spare time, that doesn’t change the fact that he BRUTALIZED this old man.
Are you naturally this stupid, or do you have to work at it?
Haha – it seems our little friend Sam here has made some news of his own:
“A man commissioned a tattoo artist to imprint “Only God can judge me” on his upper arm Monday and then left without paying, the victim told Denton police.
The tattoo artist said the man came in to the shop in the 200 block of West University Drive with some friends and asked for the motto along with the image of praying hands.
The artist completed the work and asked for $200, according to the report. The man handed over a credit card, but the charge was declined by the credit card company. The man waited in the front of the store for a bit with his friends, and the friends slipped away. Then the man ran out of the store, according to the report.”
*giggle*
http://www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/070909dnmettattoo.4bf71d4.html
BTW, he looks like a crackhead… any drug history on this lowlife?
NAW…… NO DRUGS!! JUST FUCKED UP MOM AND NO DAD!!!!!
I am mostly likely going to be a landlord one day. These stories scare the shit out of me.
Call the police !
I have known William (Bill) for many years now.. My boyfriend and I restored a 1929 Ford Model A Coupe and Bill used to go to all the local cruise nights and meet us there. We always shared good times. Bill would bring one of his cars out everyweek. He had a Ponitac and a Ford Model A as well.. He was very kind, whole hearted, and most genuine person one could meet. He often brought his grandchildren there with him. Especially on the car shows on Saturdays. Cruise night was on Tuesday and it was not the same without Bill coming up and joking around with us. Bill will be missed by everyone. I hope this asshole burns in hell for what he did. I cant understand why anyone would want to hurt him. People get fired up all the time but to do this to a 67 year old man fighting and battling cancer.. i dont get it.. Bill was doing GREAT!! You couldnt even tell he was going through all that.. Every week when I would ask him how things were and how he felt he just kept saying “DR TELLS ME I AM A MIRICLE..I KEEP SHOCKING HIM HOW GOOD I AM DOING..” Bill will truely be missed by everyone.. I have been trying to get a hold of his family to see when his wake and funeral is because a lot of us from cruise night would like to come and pay our respects but have been unsuccessful. If anyone knows when it is i would appreciate an email or something. Thanks!!
Thank you for your memories of Bill. As sad as it is, it is so important for people to tell the victim’s stories.
He sounds like a really great guy, as so many victims are. It seems like the very fact that they are good and decent people sometimes makes them vulnerable to the mean and horrible freaks out there. But, if you believe in God, your friend is safe now. If you don’t believe in God, just remember that people like you helped him be the great guy he was. I am sure that he was tickled every time you asked about his health… every time he got ready to come meet with your group… And, I join you in hoping that this slug Vega burns in hell.
I wish no one to burn in hell.
*yawn*
Thanks for weighing in on the subject. It totally changed my opinion.
Yes, Thank you for your comment. It’s one thing to read about how great a guy William Hallin was in a news article, it’s quite another to hear it from someone who actually knew the man himself. It seemed pretty obvious to me as I researched me story that Bill was a good and decent man, and that Martin Vega was as much a polar opposite of him as one could be. I wish I could help you with your quest for information on his funeral, but I hope someone does come through for you. If I do find out anything, you’ll be the first to know.
hi this is bill’s niece the wake will be this wednesday and thursday july 15th and 16th the funeral is friday july 17th it will be on 57th and pulaski at modell funeral home the wake is 3:00 to 9:00 i hope you get this in time thank you for saying so much for my uncle
I can bet a million to one that Vega is an illegal. Deport his ass.
why because he’s hispanic, figures all white people say that, why don’t u get deported. This country is Native American
Not all white people say that, sam. Stop profiling us crackers >:) If someone commits a crime, I usually jump to assume it is some white idjit who thought the cops would blame someone of ethnic descent…
If that’s true, then you can feel free to gtfo too. =)
Wow. Talk about profiling. Sam, you are a fucking asshole hypocrite. You were getting on someone’s case for what you think was a racial profile and you said “figures all white people say that”. What is THAT? Huh?
YEAH, moron! It’s a racist remark! The only difference in what you claim to condemn and what you DO is the race of the participants. It’s bad to say that Hispanics are __whatever__ but it’s OK to say that whites are ___whatever___?
Not that I expect you to understand this. You are obviously too brain dead to even grasp a fraction of the concept. Just suffice it to say that everyone here can see what an idiot you are. Now move along… have a nice day.
Australopithecus are all a bunch of bastards
*gasp* You specieist bastard!
EXCUSE ME???
Some of my best friends are Australopithecus. Shame on you!
Now that I’ve had my morning cola, wouldn’t it be more correct to say “australopithecines”? hehe
ooh, alanna, you grammar nazi you.
:>)
-max
heh, I thought someone would catch me on the word “are”
SKIN COLOR IS JUST THAT, COLOR!! WE ALL BLEED THE SAME AND HURT JUST LIKE THE NEXT PERSON! GIVE IT TO GOD AND LET HIM JUDGE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SORRY, BUT “VEGA” IS PUERTO RICAN, YOU KNOW FROM THE PLACE THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS AN UNDERWATER MILITARY FORCE TO PROTECT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA? SORRY, WE ARE NOT ILLEGAL. WE JUST SHARE OUR SPACE TO PROTECT THE U.S.A.
Did you read what you typed prior to hitting ‘submit?’ You look like a complete and utter jackass when you post such idiocy. Puerto Rico belongs to the US, so they are not just “sharing” their water space. Seriously, wait for the drugs to wear off, then consider whether or not you want to post more stupidity.
SO YOU PLACED A BET “A MILLION TO ONE” AND YOU LOSE!!!!! WHERE IS MY MONEY? I CAN TAKE YOU TO COURT OVER THIS. WATCH WHAT YOU SAY, CUZ I WILL BE TALKING TO A LAWYER!!!!!!!
I’M TAKING YOUR BET, AND IT IS PUBLIC! PROVE THAT HE IS ILLEGAL AND WE WILL TAKE THIS TO COURT FOR RACIAL SLANDER. i AM SPEAKING TO A LAWYER. YOU THINK THAT BECAUSE THIS IS THE INTERNET, THAT YOU CAN SAY WHAT YOU WANT? SORRY, THIS IS RACIAL!!!!
Did you tweek out on PCP before posting? The underwater military force you speak of does not come primarily from Puerto Rico, by the way. My younger brother is a Submariner, and submariners belong to the United State Navy, of which I am also a member (Military Police, if you couldn’t tell) The Coast Guard protects the borders and the Navy goes out on the high seas and covers other people’s asses. Get it straight.
He was legal. I know him and his daughter personally. Everyone inclyding his family and friends are just as shocked and confused as everyone else who does not know him.
Martin had a reason for snapping, whatever that maybe it isn’t being said. I feel bad for martin and the landlords family. I’m sure the landlord was no saint like he is being portrayed.
There was no “reason” for snapping.
He murdered his land lord and then tried to dispose of the body by burning it inside a building.
I WANT MY MONEY. YOU MADE A PUBLIC BET AND I HAVE PROOF OF SLANDER !!!!!!!!!!!!
LoL – calm down me, we can’t get all of them. You gotta settle for the ones that you can reach buddy. But if you get any of that cash, can I have a little piece?
Alex,
After I read your inane post, I fel like snapping too. Can I come to your home and beat you senseless ?
You fucking people never cease to amaze me. The landlord had a reputation for being kind and helpful…whilst this wannabe thug murdering bastard Vega already has 5..COUNT THEM…5 felony convictions under his belt.
I could easily cast aside your intolerable stupidity and remind you to read the article again…SLOWLY…though Im quite certain you’re still going to have the same bullshit opinion, and still suffer from cognitive dysfunction.
I’m with you..I feel I little snap happy myself maybe I could join you, I’ll bring the sticks
You may, endchildabusenow….you bring the sticks and I’ll bring a belt. – Good times.
I swear, I think some of these idiots who defend monsters like Vega could also find a reason to defend someone killing thier own mother.
YOU ARE NOT A PARENT, RIGHT?
Alex, you’ve got a lot of nerve speculating something that flies in the face of all the people I read about who actually KNEW William Hallin and said he was a great human being, especially in support of the like of this lowlife sack of shit Martin Vega.
And I’m curious, what actually is a good enough reason to snap and beat a 67-year old man to death an burn his body? What could an old man collecting rent have done to deserve what happened to Bill Hallin?
I checked, and you and sam seem to be posting from the same exact spot in Chicago, even though your IP’s are different. Are you relatives or Vega, or just friends of his? Or just one person on a dynamic IP? Either way, you have zero credibility right now, because you choose to act so suspiciously.
Now see Alex. If he had snapped as you claim, it may have been some fists, maybe some kicks, maybe some choking. When you have someone beat your head in and burn your body, that’s from from snapping. It’s premedaitated. How you feel bad for Martin, I’ll never understand. But if I ever feel like “snapping” by your terms, I’ll bring a baseball bat and you can be my personal pinata, ok?
Be careful when you break this pinata open Tito. I ‘m pretty sure the only thing alex is full of is shit.
ROFL Max.
‘A reason for snapping’?? Snapping is an impulsive reaction to something–not taking enough time to beat the man with different items then dragging him down to the basement, so no one would see what he was doing, and continue beating him, ignoring the 67 year old man’s pleas, then killing him. That isn’t ‘snapping’; that is too long a process and too much thought had to go into beating this innocent man to death. This is murder and Vega deserves to fry.
I love when foolish idiots who try to be on the sly with their imbecilic comments get called out.
YOU MUST OF BEEN BORN WITH A SILVER SPOON IN YOU MOUTH! TRY GROWING UP WITH A PHYSCO DAD, AND A CRAZY MOTHER WHO CALLS YOU THE DEVIL!! HOW GOOD WILL YOUR SELF ESTEEM BE???????
Okay, gang, after reading the postings of me, I can assume a few things, but this is my favorite theory… me is an individual comprised of ALL races, ALL creeds, ALL genders and ALL species. me also is a habitual PCP abuser, a meth head, and addicted to LSD.
Oh and by the way, I did grow up with a psycho dad and a mom who called me the devil. Dad used to throw things and punch walls. He even broke the bottom step of the main staicase. My mother sucker punched me in the back of the head and I had to subdue her. She also threw me out of the house when I was 17, because I had gone and filled up my pick-up truck so I could drive it to school. Two hours later, she called the cops and told them I ran away, so now I can’t even get a concealed carry license in my state, because they think I will tweak and kill someone.
I have never killed anyone, not even in the line of duty. I am a responsible, productive citizen. I am the proud parent of a beautiful little girl. I am a Second Class Petty Officer in the United States Navy. I am the reference my brother uses to get out of trouble, because of my spotless career. I have served in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Upbringing had nothing to do with it. You take what life gives you and you either succumb or rise above. It is a personal choice, not a prediction. It is what it is. You make life what you want it to be.
I think George Jones says it all in one of his songs Choices:’
Ive had choices
Since the day that I was born
There were voices
That told me right from wrong
If I had listened
No I wouldn’t be here today
Living and dying
With the choices I made
All of these criminals had choices every day and they choose to hurt people. If everyone who had been abused, neglected, had a horrible childhood were poor turned into criminal scum this world would be Mad Max times 3-point being that the majority of people try -they may not be a much better parent than they had but they are not killing their kids, neighbors, landlords because they had a bad childhood.
I agree. Instead of being a cop, I could be a hooker.
me. is taking up for him because she is his sister
hes a prick my siss x and a mureder hell for him electric chair
I have waited and followed all the articles and posts that have been around for the last 14 months. As of Aug.30th 2010 Martin Vega is serving a 70 year prison sentence. Everyday must be served no good behavior. This means the man who admitted and pled guilty to killing my father will be 98 years old before he will every see the streets again. Justice was served. He should have never been on the streets to begin with.
Funnily enough, Martin Vega is also the name of another criminal who was executed in 1999: http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/stat/vegamartinlast.htm
World cup wully!