Elderly woman beaten and doused with flammable liquid during break-in
An elderly woman was beaten and doused with a flammable liquid late Thursday after intruders entered her home in Grantville, Ga., the Meriwether County Sheriff’s Office said on Saturday.
The woman sustained cuts and broken bones during what authorities said was an aggravated battery, robbery, aggravated assault and burglary in the 7700 block of Forrest Road. The victim was transported to a metro Atlanta area hospital where she was treated for multiple injuries.
Authorities are looking for two or three men after the 11:40 p.m. assault, which remains under investigation by the sheriff’s office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Investigators have recovered evidence in their search for suspects.
An investigation revealed that several suspects entered the woman’s home while she was sleeping. When she awoke, the woman was attacked by one of the intruders.
The men apparently went to the home looking for a relative of the victim. While one intruder beat the woman, others ransacked the house before leaving. A short time later, one of the intruders returned, doused the victim with a flammable liquid and ignited it. The woman was able to put out the fire before calling 911 for help.
“Based on the information that we have obtained at this time, we are looking for two or three black males and a black female related to this incident,” Sheriff Chuck Smith said in a release. “This is an ongoing investigation and we are tracking down leads as they develop.”
Anyone with any information related to the case should contact the Meriwether County Sheriff’s Office at 706-672-4489 or the GBI at 404- 244-2600 or 1-800- 282-8746. Callers may remain anonymous, the sheriff said.
Ben Wright: 706-571-8576, @bfwright87
This story was originally published August 6, 2016 at 6:21 PM with the headline "Elderly woman beaten and doused with flammable liquid during break-in."