Eduardo Cademartori, the 27-year-old Florida native and victim of a recent beating outside downtown Crave Restaurant and Lounge, died early Tuesday as a result of sustained head injuries. Police said the case will now become a homicide investigation and suspects will face more serious charges.
According to Madison police, the altercation began at the Crave Restaurant and Lounge located at 201 W. Gorham St. Three suspects then left the tavern and confronted Cademartori nearby on the 300 block of East Johnson. They struck Cademartori in the head and Madison police found him unconscious early Sunday morning.
According to the coroner's report, Cademartori was taken to Meriter Hospital with severe injuries to the head, and was listed under critical condition until Tuesday morning when he was taken off life support. The DeLand-Deltona Beacon, Cademartori's hometown newspaper, identified him as a well-known racecar mechanic visiting Madison for training with his teammates.
Two of the suspects, Madison residents Roynell Fuller, 19, and Ross Spang, 22, arrested on tentative charges of substantial battery, now face more serious charges. Spang is an employee at the Crave and reportedly argued with the victim at the tavern before following him up the street with Fuller and one other.
Madison Police Department public information officer Joel DeSpain said police are waiting to talk to the final suspect. The man is still being considered a witness and it is unknown whether there is probable cause to arrest him,"" DeSpain said.
Due to Cademartori's death, police changed the status of the investigation from battery to homicide Tuesday. DeSpain said the specific homicide charges the suspects face will be decided by the detective team and the district attorney's office.
The incident is the second homicide in three months to take place at a downtown bar. Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, called the incident a ""horrible coincidence"" in terms of its similarity to a fatal bar fight that took place outside of the Plaza Tavern in September.
""It is very unusual to have any homicides in Madison and it is overwhelming and saddening that we have seen multiple over the past two years,"" Verveer said. ""It is upsetting that there is a perception problem in Madison that it is a dangerous place. I do not believe that is the case.""
