Death of New York man in vegetative state is declared a homicide after 30 years

One of recent New York City's unsolved homicides: the death of a man who spent the last 30 years in a vegetative state after suffering head injuries in a 1977 robbery.

The medical examiner determined that Francisco Alvarez, 57, died from injuries related to the attack, leading police to reclassify the case as a homicide. He died Saturday.

William Alvarez, 74, told Newsday his stepson was beaten with a bat.

"He was a good man," William Alvarez said.

It was the second time in a month that a New York City death was declared a homicide years after the attack.

Earlier in April, Gilberto Medina, 70, died from complications from a gunshot wound to the spine 30 years ago.