Times Staff Report

A cause-of-death ruling for 84-year-old Alfred Angelini is on hold pending the result of further tests.

Angelini, of Merrillville, died Thursday, two weeks after Theresa Ann Hunt allegedly hit him on the head with a flower pot and robbed him of $700.

The death had been called an apparent homicide, but officials want to rule out other possible causes, a Lake County coroner's office spokesman said.

Angelini's age and the two-week period between the alleged beating and his death led the coroner's office to hold off on a verdict pending investigation of blood and tissue samples, the spokesman said.

"We just want to make sure everything is ruled out other than the injury," the spokesman said.

Some of the test results likely won't be known for up to six weeks, the spokesman said.

Hunt, 42, was charged with robbery and battery after she reportedly admitted to Merrillville police she beat Angelini and stole his money to buy crack cocaine.

Police would not say Friday whether murder charges will be added. They are investigating the case as a homicide.