Homicide detectives are now trying to determine if the injuries 89-year-old David Martinez sustained in the attack led to his death.
His accused attacker, 35-year-old Luke Schoedel, was arrested on felony assault and elder abuse charges at the scene of the attack near Venice Boulevard and Main Street on Oct. 21. He remained jailed in lieu of $80,000 bail.
Martinez was treated at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center after the alleged attack, but left the hospital. He checked himself back in to Cedars-Sinai last Tuesday, and died at 5:30 a.m. Saturday.
Detectives were not sure if the assault or the victim's advanced age led to his death. If it was the attack, Schoedel could be charged with murder.
The elderly attack is one of two recent assaults reported on MTA buses near Culver City.
Kerry Trotter, 20, was arrested last week after he allegedly stalked and raped an 18-year-old mentally disabled woman. He is expected to be arraigned Wednesday.
