Elderly Man Beaten By Intruders Speaks To CBS13 About Attack
PENN VALLEY (CBS13) -- An elderly man almost died after a beating in the head with a tire iron, but the 81-year-old survived and now he's talking about the attack.
Just one day after the beating, Jim Wright shocked his family and nurses by going from critical to serious condition. After he surprised everyone, he was taken home on Thursday, but before that, he spoke with CBS13 about why he fought so hard to stay alive.
"I said 'why are you doing this', he never gave me an answer, he just kept beating me," explained Wright.
It's almost unbelievable that Jim Wright is able to sit up and speak about the attack that only happened three days ago.
"(There are) 16 lacerations on the top of my scalp," said Wright.
On Monday night investigators say Wright allowed a man into hisPennValleyhome after he knocked at about 6:00 p.m., according to authorities. Wright believed the man was his former tax preparer.
"Jim asked, 'Are you Frank?' And the guy said yes, and Jim said, 'I haven't seen you in 20 years,'" Vera said.
The man charged his phone and asked for a glass of water, but soon asked for money and grabbed a crowbar out of his car when Jim refused, authorities said.
"Then the guy proceeded to hit him in the head seven times," Vera said.
Neighbors rushed to the home and found the victim covered in blood, and emergency crews rushed him to the hospital for treatment.
YubaCountyauthorities said they spotted suspects 22-year-old Dillon McMahon and 19-year-old John Adrian in a stolen car a short time later, and pursued the two men to Marysville, where spike strips disabled the car.
The Placer County Sheriff's Department believes the two stole the vehicle earlier Monday before driving toPennValley. The two had been reportedly knocking on doors in Wright's neighborhood and asking for money.
The suspects are facing a laundry list of charges including carjacking, kidnapping and attempted murder.
During the beating, Wright wondered if he'd get to finish the mission he'd started just a few months ago.
"Am I going to die before I get my Good Conduct Medal?" questioned Wright.
Wright is an army veteran who's fought to get the military to finally hand him two medals he earned more than 60 years ago; medals he'd like to wear on Veteran's Day.
"And I would just love to be able to do that," says Wright.
The Office of Congressman Tom McClintock who's fought to help Wright get his medals said, "In the interest of the veteran, we hopefully can do everything we can to resolve it successfully in his favor. I'm appalled by the violence that has occurred on any citizen especially one that has honorably served our country."
