Family wants justice after caught-on-video attack

CBS News 8 - San Diego, CA News Station - KFMB Channel 8

SAN DIEGO (CBS8) - An elderly woman's caretaker is in custody Thursday evening after allegedly attacking the woman's senior friend, all of which was caught on video.

Margaret Wood, 93, was returning to her friend's home on the afternoon of April 16th to retrieve her keys and sunglasses she had left after a visit. When she returned, she was met with her friend's caretaker.

"She was pulled into the house violently. You can see a scuffle through the door and seconds later, granny is flying backwards off the porch and lands on her head," said Lisa Wood, Margaret's granddaughter in-law.

A neighbor called 911 and Margaret was later hospitalized with serious injuries, including a skull fracture, a broken nose and hemorrhages.

"She has been deteriorating and not getting better. At this point, they're not sure. She might be in this state for the rest of her life. It's worse than being dead. To be half alive," said Margaret’s son Richard Wood.

The entire incident was captured on a neighbor's surveillance camera, which had been set up after she herself had an intimidating encounter with 66-year-old caregiver William Sutton. Sutton moved in a few years ago and the family says there were problems from the very beginning.

"There is something that could have been prevented. I wonder to myself, why this predator was allowed to terrorize the neighbor?" said family attorney John Nojima.

Sutton was arrested on charges of attempted murder and elder abuse. The family says the San Diego County District Attorney's Office is considering a plea agreement of six years in prison.  The district attorney's office declined to comment on the potential plea agreement since this the case is ongoing.

"No, no. He can still hurt somebody else when he gets out," said Lisa.

The family says the sentence doesn't fit the charges laid against Sutton.

"This man shouldn't be allowed out. They want to give him a slap on the wrist," said Richard. "You get up in the morning and you go to the hospital and you hope like hell your mother is going to be up smiling and give you a nice kiss and what you get, is nothing."

Sutton is scheduled to have a readiness conference Friday morning ahead of a preliminary hearing scheduled for next week.

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Family wants justice after caught-on-video attack