Family Thanks Good Samaritan Who Chased Elderly-Attack Suspects

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — A man who allegedly attacked an elderly woman with a crowbar while she was behind the wheel faced a judge on Tuesday.

Investigators say William Dexter, 18, and a 16-year-old girl asked the grandmother for a ride home and lured her to a neighborhood before trying to steal her car and purse.

Florence McCarthy, 73 was still in too much pain to attend the arraignment with her three daughters.

"Our mom is just as sweet as pie, and she's just a wonderful person so its tough to imagine something so violent happening to her," said Sonya Aflleje.

Her family was visibly shaken in court after seeing the man accused of attacking her.

"The impact on her grandchildren, it's terrible—their grammy—somebody would actually really do this to her," said Lisa Thompson.

Investigators say Dexter and the teen flagged down McCarthy at her neighborhood Raley's and asked her for a ride. They directed her to Eastwood Road where deputies say the teens hit McCarthy in the head with a crowbar while she was still behind the wheel.

"She's saddened at their ages, that they would do something that could impact their entire life and she's very sad about that," said Aflleje.

A good Samaritan, Cody Hendrix, saw the commotion outside his home and chased down the teens for miles in his socks until they gave up and were arrested. His sister Chelsea tended to McCarthy's injuries.

"We want to thank Cody and Chelsea for saving our mom, they really stepped up," Aflleje said. "They could have hid in their house and they sure didn't. They went and rescued her and helped out."

McCarthy had to get several staples in her head and suffered a broken arm, but her family knows it could have been much worse if not for some brave neighbors who stepped in.

Dexter did not enter a plea. His bail was increased to $150,000.