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Two Weeks After Attack, Nephew Of 'Walking Man' Still Trying To Find Uncle

CHICAGO (CBS) -- It has been just over two weeks since the "Walking Man" – Joseph Kromelis – was attacked and ended up in the hospital, and his nephew said he's "hitting roadblocks everywhere" he goes in his effort to get him money he raised for his medical bills.

Vytas Vaitkus said he's repeatedly tried to find out how his uncle is doing, but the hospital has told him it can't give him any information without Kromelis' permission, so Vaitkus doesn't even know if his uncle is still in the hospital.

A woman claimed she saw the Walking Man in a store in Streeterville on Wednesday, but it's not clear if she actually saw Kromelis. Vaitkus tried to run it down, but had no luck.

"It's been a frustrating two weeks," he said.

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Kromelis, 69, was beaten on May 24 while walking on Lower Wacker Drive. He told police he said hello to someone he passed on the street, and that man began punching him and hitting him with a baseball bat.

Kromelis was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital to be treated for his injuries. Police said after Kromelis refused to pursue felony charges, 41-year-old Perry McCarlton II was charged with one misdemeanor count of reckless conduct.

Vaitkus has set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for his uncle.

"One way or another, I'm going to make contact with my uncle and I'm going to get this money to him," he said.

He can't believe a few people have commented on the GoFundMe page that they think it's a scam.

"I didn't ask for this privilege. I just thought I would do something nice. And I'm hitting roadblocks everywhere I go," he said.

As of Thursday morning, Vaitkus had raised nearly $33,000.

"If he takes it and throws it over the bridge - I'll videotape it so at least people will see that he had it in his hands," Vaitkus said. "I shouldn't say that."

"Honestly, I just want to make contact with my uncle, and hopefully he'll take the money, and enjoy it, and never have to go through what happened to him again," he added.

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