A man has been jailed in Wayne County after allegedly strangling and beating his mother.
The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office initially responded to the report of a break-in Wednesday morning at approximately 11:00 on Godsey Road near Monticello, according to Sheriff Tim Catron. When police arrived on scene, the homeowner said he caught a family member, 47-year-old Eric L. Steele, illegally entering his home by removing a window air conditioner. Steele told the homeowner he was taking food.
Deputies found Steele at his mother’s home, also on Godsey Road. When police made contact with the mother, she displayed “signs of being severely beaten,” Catron said. The mother, though, repeatedly told authorities that she had fallen outside.
She was transported to Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital by EMS.
Steele was arrested and charged with second-degree burglary and lodged in the Wayne County Detention Center.
A few hours later, Catron said a family member called the sheriff’s office and told deputies that it was Steele who caused the injuries to his mother.
When police went to the hospital to interview Steele’s mother, she told deputies that her son strangled and beat her on Monday and Tuesday of this week.
“The injuries were consistent with her account of the events,” Catron said.
Steele was then charged with second-degree assault (domestic violence) and first-degree strangulation (domestic violence). He is being held on a $50,000 cash bond.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
