Woman claims she's innocent in Pembroke assault

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By Dal Cannady bio | email

PEMBROKE, GA (WTOC) - A woman wanted for questioning in the assault of an elderly Pembroke man claims she's innocent. She told WTOC by phone the man was like a father to her and she had no reason to attack him.

It happened early Monday morning. Police say Devon Morris recognized one of several attackers as Donna Hodges, a woman Morris had helped financially in the past.

Wednesday, Hodges went to Pembroke police for questioning. Police have not charged her in the case. Thursday she called WTOC to proclaim her innocence and her confidence she would be cleared.

Monday morning around 2am, police say someone went into Morris' home and beat him with several objects in his bedroom. The attack left him unconscious until Monday afternoon, he told police.

With no phone, the 70-year-old man staggered a half mile from his house to his friend Gabby Hall's pet grooming shop for help.

"All I could do was stand there in shock because the man was covered in blood, from his head, his face his arms," she recalled. "He had no color. He looked like he was about to pass out in my shop."

Pembroke police say Morris identified one attacker as Hodges, a woman with a criminal record who he says he tried to help in the past. Hodges told WTOC her name was merely suggested to Morris as a possible suspect.

"He woke up to someone beating him," explained police chief Mark Crowe. "He could tell there was more than one person inside, ransacking the house looking for money."

Local veterans say Morris served in Vietnam and they're outraged anyone would do this to a disabled veteran.

"He was on oxygen," said Cindy Malloy, a fellow veteran and member of Pembroke's American Legion Auxillary. "You never saw him without his oxygen. For somebody to do this, it was a wimpy attack. It had to be someone who knew he couldn't fight back.

Hall said Morris had been coming to her shop every day for years to help with animals. She said he often walked the dogs and greeted customers as a way to stay active.

Anyone with information in the case is asked to call Pembroke Police at 912.653.4414.