Man Allegedly Killed Sex Offender Grandfather By Smashing His Face In With A Hammer

A Wisconsin man was charged Friday after he was accused of murdering his grandfather, a registered sex offender, by smashing the 70-year-old’s face in with a hammer almost 30 years after his conviction.

Shortly before Charles Luitze’s gruesome death, Bryan Luitze II, 25, allegedly spoke with a relative about the anger he felt toward him, according to a criminal complaint acquired by Oxygen.com. He allegedly asked the relative how they could forgive the grandfather and said that he was thinking about “taking him out.” The relative interpreted this to mean killing him. 

Charles had been convicted of sexually assaulting a young family member in 1991, three years before Bryan was born, according to court documents uploaded by the Wisconsin District II Court of Appeals.

Bryan's relative said that they tried calming him down, pointing out that his grandfather had already served prison time. But Bryan allegedly wouldn’t back down, saying that “Charles hurt people and Charles would do it again,” the complaint stated.

Bryan Luitze II Photo: Kenosha County Jail

That night, Bryan reportedly asked his mother for the keys to their house, saying he would be out late. When he got back some time after 4:30 a.m. the next day, Aug. 14, his mother found the keys had all been taped together, according to the complaint. Bryan reportedly said this was so they “would not jingle in his pants pocket.”

The day after that, deputies arrived at Charles's home on an unknown trouble call — and discovered a grisly crime scene.

Blood spattered the walls. The 70-year-old was lying in bed with most of his face crushed in, a bloody hammer still lodged in his cheek. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Upon searching Bryan's home, investigators discovered a backpack stained with blood that matched his grandfather’s DNA, according to the complaint. He was arrested and was charged last Friday with first degree intentional homicide, robbery with use of force, and armed burglary, according to an online inmate search.

Charles had served 14 years behind bars for his crimes after his 1991 conviction, according to case details uploaded by the state of Wisconsin. He had “a long history of sexual assaults” involving multiple victims, but was uncooperative during group therapy sessions — preferring to rely on his Christian faith “as a substitute” for state-backed treatment, court documents stated.

He had identified as a born-again Christian prior to his conviction, according to the documents.

Bryan is being held on $1 million bail.