Garland PD searching for suspect in murder of 81-year-old Korean War vet

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Police are searching for a man suspected of killing an 81-year-old Korean War veteran in Garland.

Donald St. Clair was found dead on July 4 in a warehouse where he was living. His car wasn't stolen nor was his wallet.

Garland police say they don't know why he was killed but do know who is responsible for the veteran’s murder.

Jeff Shaw said the veteran lived next door to his business for years, remembering him not only as a hard worker and a good neighbor, but also as a friend.

“Everybody watched out for Don,” Shaw said. “And Don watched out for us. We call him our night security.”

Friends say St. Clair did work striping the parking lot to earn a living and pay the rent at the warehouse where he slept.

“The way he lived, it's a simple life,” said Shaw. “He doesn't have anything luxury inside that warehouse.”

A neighbor said he was out of town for the weekend and St. Clair had promised to pick up his mail while he was gone. So he went to St. Clair’s home to get it. That was when the neighbor discovered the body after noticing a foul smell.

“I saw a body that's been decomposed completely,” the neighbor said, who didn’t’ want to be identified. “And I saw blood all over the floor.”

Police say St. Clair died of blunt force trauma and had been there for a couple days.

Surveillance video captured 53-year-old Donald Giles entering and leaving St. Clair’s warehouse. Records show Giles has been arrested multiple times for theft, burglary and assault.

“This guy, Donald Giles, is dangerous,” said Lt. Pedro Barineau with the Garland Police Department. “We want to find him, and we need the public's help.”

Police say Giles lives in Dallas but is known to hang around Garland and has ties to Houston. Police don’t believe the men knew each other and are not sure of a motive.

“He had no property missing from him, so the motive for this murder is something detectives are still looking into,” said Barineau.

Neighbors just hope justice is served for St. Clair.

“If he's really truly a man, he needs to turn himself in to authorities,” a neighbor said. “Because this man that lived here didn't hurt anybody. He lived a simple life”. 

Crimestoppers is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to Giles’ arrest.