Charles Beck put others before himself.
Beck, who operated Chuck's Chassis Service in Wilkins Township, cared for his mother, Cecelia, for many years before failing health forced her into a nursing home, said Beck's brother, William, and his wife, Isabel, of Millersville, Lancaster County.
"Even when it got to that point, I remember him telling me he couldn't stand to do it. After he signed the admission paperwork, he had to leave. But he always visited her, whenever he had a spare moment, until she died in 1996," Isabel Beck said.
Beck liked to hear news about his nieces and nephews, said his sister-in-law, LuAnne Beck, of Duncan, S.C.
Beck's selflessness makes it hard for his family to understand why anyone murdered the North Huntingdon man on Feb. 24, 1998.
Beck, 57, who lived alone, was found bludgeoned to death in the basement of his home after an employee became concerned when his boss failed to show for work.
The slayer had bashed the victim's head and torso with a blunt instrument.
Police think Beck knew his killer. There was no sign of forced entry. The well-kept home was not ransacked.
"From what we've been able to tell from information we've received about his injuries, it's apparent he really fought for his life," Isabel Beck said.
Beck collected antique cars and owned more than a dozen. Customers dubbed him "Chuck Chassis." When he traveled to look at a car, he sometimes carried a large amount of cash.
He was last seen at work at about 5:30 p.m. on a Saturday. His body was found two days later.
"All I can tell you at this point is we're still working on the case and occasionally we do receive tips on it," Westmoreland County Detective Mark Zupan said.
"His brother, William, was into football; Jim was into baseball, and Chuck enjoyed cars. They were as close as brothers can be and we all miss him every day," LuAnne Beck said. "When something like this happens ... the event is so grotesque. People just don't realize what the surviving family members go through." Additional Information:
Details
Charles BeckWestmoreland County detectives
724- 830-3287
