According to court documents, deputies with the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office responded to a home in the 2200 block of Eddie Miles Road in New Haven, Kentucky, on May 22 for a reported assault.
Once on scene, deputies found 73-year-old Catherine Donahue who had been severely beaten. She had severe swelling to her face and eye socket, causing her eye to swell shut. She was also bleeding from her face and was in and out of consciousness. She was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
”He was out to kill me,” Donahue said. “He was, I don’t know why.”
Donahue said she suffered the beating at the hands of 19-year-old Ayden Williams.
“I guess my granddaughter probably let him in,” Donahue. “But we didn’t know he was here.”
Donahue suspects Williams came to the home on Eddie Miller Road to visit her granddaughter and hid in another room.
”I said ‘what in the hell are you doing here…get up and get out of my son’s bedroom,'” Donahue said.
Donahue said she grabbed Williams and that led to the violent confrontation.
”When he hit the ground, I hit the ground, he hit me and knocked me down,” Donahue said.
Donahue said she screamed for help, but Williams kept hitting and kicking her in the face, chest and back.
”My granddaughter heard me hollering, and they came in here and got the ball bat and an old cane I keep behind the door, and they was beating him off,” Donahue said.
Meanwhile, Donahue has a lot of injuries and spent several days in the hospital.
After police left, Williams returned to the house for his phone and smartwatch. Residents called police, and Williams was arrested after a foot pursuit.
Williams was charged with assault and fleeing from police. He has since posted a $1,000 bond. He is due back in court June 10 in Nelson County.
