A painter at a local college was found beaten to death inside his Upper Darby home on Monday.
Co-workers of 59-year-old Michael Fanning, a painter at Haverford College, told police they became concerned after Fanning didn’t show up to the college over the weekend. The co-workers say they hadn’t heard from him for several days and went to his home on the 7100 block of Ruskin Lane around 8 a.m. on Monday to check on him.
When they knocked on his door and he didn’t respond, they called 911. Responding police officers went through a window into the house where they found Fanning’s body inside a second floor bedroom.
Investigators say Fanning had been beaten to death and that he may have been dead for several days before he was finally found.
Police say there was no sign of a forced entry.
Investigators say Fanning’s vehicle was also stolen and they are currently searching for it. The car is described as a silver 2002 Mercury Grand Marquis with a roadster top and the license plate “RICTER.”
Police found drug paraphernalia, including plastic heroin bags and needles inside Fanning’s home, according to investigators.
Local
Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood.
While an autopsy has not yet been performed, investigators say it appeared that Fanning had been bludgeoned to death.
They continue to investigate. Stay with NBC10.com for more details on this developing story.
