A 20-year-old Oxford woman was hospitalized Monday morning after she was allegedly brutally beaten by her father with a baseball bat while she was sleeping at 77 S. Glaspie St.
The father, Robert Brian Kelly, 52, of Oxford, was arrested after turning himself in and confessing to the assault, according to village police.
Kelly was arraigned May 11 in Rochester Hills 52-3 District Court on the felony charge of assault with intent to murder. He’s being held in the Oakland County Jail in lieu of posting a $2 million bond.
‘We definitely want justice for this girl,? said village Police Sgt. Mike Solwold.
The victim’s been identified as Megan Roberts, a 2009 graduate of Oxford High School, student at Oakland Community College and waitress at the Hamlin Pub in Orion Township.
‘She’s still (in) critical (condition). She is in a medically-induced coma for now,? said her aunt Dawn, who did not wish to give her last name. ‘We will be taking her out of that on Thursday. The doctors are giving us thumbs up. She’s doing movement on her own . . . We’re going on hope and faith right now.?
Roberts is being treated at POH Regional Medical Center in Pontiac.
‘She’s a fighter. She is a very strong-willed young lady,? Dawn noted.
A candlelight prayer service for Roberts was held in downtown’s Centennial Park Tuesday evening. Many family and friends attended to share hugs and fond memories, release tears and show support for the young lady they love so much.
‘This was a tragedy,? Dawn said. ‘She’s a beautiful, vibrant young woman. Her eyes shined.?
According to Sgt. Solwold, Roberts? father visited the village station shortly after 8 a.m. Monday.
‘He walked in here and said he wanted to report an assault,? Solwold said.
When the dispatcher asked him if he knew who committed the assault, Solwold said the father replied, ‘Yes, I did.?
Prior to the father coming in, the village dispatch center received a 9-1-1 cellular call from Roberts? mother at 8:01 a.m.
She was seeking medical help for her daughter, whom she found in the bedroom ‘unconscious and bleeding profusely,? according to police.
‘I was still on the phone with her when (the father) walked up (to the window),? said Dispatcher Tony VanHouten.
The motive for the alleged assault is still unknown. ‘He wouldn’t tell me much more after I read him his rights,? Solwold said.
Neymanowski said the investigation determined Roberts was sleeping at the time of the alleged assault.
When asked if the village police had any type of history of contact with the father or daughter for domestic disturbances and the like, Solwold said, ‘Not at all.?
‘We’re kind of dumbfounded by it,? the sergeant said. ‘We don’t know what made the guy snap, honestly.?
The village police called in specialists from the Oakland County Sheriff’s Forensic Science Laboratory to analyze the scene of the alleged assault.
Solwold indicated the village PD is taking its time to make sure everything’s done correctly in this case. ‘I think it’s pretty obvious that he did it, but we want to be careful,? he said. ‘We want to make sure we gather everything appropriately.?
Those wishing to offer their thoughts, prayers, well-wishes and support for Roberts can do so on Facebook at a community page entitled ‘Prayers for Megan.?
As of Wednesday morning, 623 people indicated they ‘like? this Facebook page.
‘It is inspirational to see how these teens are coping and how they’re coming together,? Dawn said. ‘The amount of love that’s being put out right now is unbelievable.?