GREENWOOD, Mo. — An 83-year-old Greenwood, Mo. man was allegedly beaten and robbed by a 14-year-old Grandview boy. According to police the man allowed the boy to do some yard work for him on Saturday. The man paid the boy and he left.
On Sunday, family of the victim believes the boy returned to the house with only one thing on his mind. The pictures tell the story. An 83-year-old left battered and bruised. His left eye socket and cheek bones fractured, his face swollen beyond recognition.
“It’s very, very trying. Its very difficult, very emotional, um, when you see somebody whether its young or old that had been injured this way,” said Robert Leslie, the Greenwood Chief of Police.
A close relative of the man also spoke with FOX 4 but was too afraid to be identified. The relative describes finding him in his home Sunday afternoon after the attack.
“There were blood spots in the kitchen. Blood spots in the bathroom. He was wondering around in the house a little bit before I got there,” said the relative.
The beating allegedly came at the hands of a 14-year old Grandview boy who had done yard work for the man a day earlier.
“Ahead of time, I believe that he was going to do something to get more,” said the relative.
On Sunday around noon, the boy returned to the home asking the man for a glass of water. When the man turned around, police say he was knocked to the ground and punched in the face.
“He tried to fight back. He just didn’t have the strength,” said the relative.
Allegedly high on marijuana, the boy made off with less than 100 dollars and a crystal vase.
“Nothings surprising anymore. I mean with the increase of the crime rate in the Kansas City metro area, I mean look at how many homicides the metro area is already up on,” said Leslie. “And, we are seeing an increase in crime through the metro area of violent crime. So it just starts trickling down and it moves from the metro area which includes us down into here.”
“We’re not used to this kind of crime out here especially an assault and it could have been deadly,” said the relative.
Greenwood Police arrested the teen on Monday, they are seeking charges of robbery and assault. The man is out of the hospital but will need surgery and plastic survery to help heal the damage done to his face.
Greenwood Police caution everyone to be wary of who you trust in your home and say always lock your doors.
