Murder suspect claims 88-year-old victim shorted him in drug deal

The beating death of a decorated World War II veteran took a bizarre twist Tuesday. Prosecutors said one of the two suspects has suggested that the victim, 88-year-old Delbert Belton, was selling crack cocaine outside the Eagles Lodge and shorted them. Although prosecutors didn’t elaborate in court, Spokane police later said they’ve found nothing to support suspected killer Kenan Adams-Kinard’s drug dealing claims. Adams-Kinard, 16, is being held in lieu of $3 million bond on charges of first-degree robbery and first-degree murder in connection with last week’s confrontation. The victim’s family reacted to the teen’s claims by describing them as ridiculous. “There’s absolutely no truth to that whatsoever,” Belton’s nephew Ian Day said after Adams-Kinard’s appearance. “By saying these things they’ve brought darkness upon themselves.” The drug dealing claim reportedly is contained in a letter police found inside the home where Adams-Kinard was hiding Monday morning when officers took him into custody. The contents of the letter were made public during Adams-Kinard’s first court appearance Tuesday afternoon. Defense attorney Steve Horst objected to the introduction of the letter in today’s hearing, saying prosecutors had already established probable cause to hold his client, Adams-Kinard, but District Judge Debra Hayes allowed it. When Natalie Flom, a close friend of Belton, learned of the claim that had been made in court, she burst into laughter. She said she could hardly convince Belton to take his blood pressure medication, let alone crack cocaine. “That is just hilarious,” she said. “I can’t even believe they went there.” Belton was waiting for Flom the night police say Adams-Kinard and Demetruis Glenn, also 16, beat and killed him in a Wednesday robbery outside the Eagles Lodge in north Spokane. Belton, who police say fought back against his attackers, was pronounced dead at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center. The brutal attack on a survivor of the bloody Battle of Okinawa has drawn international attention. “He was just a gentleman-in-waiting,” said Flom, who was the first to find Belton unconscious and bleeding profusely in his car. Meanwhile, Adams-Kinard’s father, Steven Kinard, stands by his son’s claim, saying Belton was well known in the cocaine dealing community. He’s far from the World War II hero he’s been portrayed as, he said. “He poisoned the country and poisoned our kids,” Steven Kinard said. Kinard admits he has a history of cocaine addiction, and says he recognized Belton from his own experience and use. Kinard was sentenced to five years in prison in 2005 for two cocaine dealing convictions. “I think everybody needs to look on the other side of the picture,” he said. Adams-Kinard and Glenn are both being held on charges of first-degree murder and first-degree robbery. Three other teens face charges of harboring a fugitive after police said they helped Adams-Kinard hide from police over the weekend. Judge Hayes ordered Adams-Kinard be moved from the juvenile detention center to Spokane County Jail, citing Monday’s raucous crowd that gathered outside the juvenile detention center to see Glenn. She also increased his bail from $2 million to $3 million, saying he’s a higher threat because he was protected by several friends. Glenn’s bail was set at $2 million.