Two brothers from Chicago have been convicted of luring their landlord to their apartment under false pretences before murdering him and discarding his body in a sewer. Elijah Green, aged 25 at the time, and Tony Green, aged 22, were found guilty of strangling 76-year-old Vasudeva Kethireddy to death in 2018. Kethireddy went missing for nearly two months before his remains were discovered in the West Englewood neighbourhood of Chicago.
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The Greens were apprehended shortly after Kethireddy’s body was found, residing on the same block where the victim was located. Tony Green has now been sentenced to 45 years in prison, while Elijah Green received a 47-year prison term for their involvement in the heinous crime. The motive behind the killing was determined to be robbery, with the brothers owing rent to the victim at the time of the murder.
According to reports, the brothers enticed Kethireddy to their apartment by fabricating a leak issue before Elijah Green proceeded to strangle him. During the incident, the brothers stole $1,600 in cash along with credit cards belonging to the victim. Subsequent investigations revealed that Tony Green’s phone had been used to search, “How long does it take for a body to decompose in the sewer?”
Shantan Kethireddy, the son of the victim, expressed his shock at the betrayal by the Greens, recounting how the brothers had initially feigned sympathy and condolences towards the family. Witnesses even observed Elijah Green carrying Kethireddy’s body over his shoulder, highlighting the callous nature of the crime. Kethireddy, who hailed from a modest village in India, had moved to Chicago and established himself as an engineer and landlord. He was known for renting out properties to individuals facing challenges or legal issues.
The victim was last seen in August 2018 at a local bank before his disappearance. Subsequently, his body was found across from a residence he owned, with his vehicle discovered nearby missing its license plates. The brothers reportedly used Kethireddy’s car to transport his body and deliberated for a day before ultimately depositing his remains in a sewer. The investigation revealed that the Greens had removed the sewer cover outside their building to dispose of the victim’s body.
Despite repeated attempts to contact the Cook County State’s Attorney for comment, no response was immediately provided. The shocking nature of this crime has left the community in disbelief, shedding light on the vulnerability of landlords and the importance of vigilance in such rental arrangements. Authorities continue to encourage individuals to remain cautious and report any suspicious activities to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
This disturbing incident serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictability of human behaviour and the importance of conducting due diligence in all interactions, especially within tenancy agreements. The Greens’ betrayal of their landlord’s trust has not only resulted in severe legal consequences for them but has also left a lasting impact on the victim’s family and the wider community. Such cases underscore the need for thorough background checks and safeguards to protect individuals from potential harm within landlord-tenant relationships.