Dangriga beating victims slowly recover
It was a crime that shocked the nation…and today News 5’s Jacqueline Woods checked in on a pair of lucky Dangrigans for whom, miraculously, life goes on.
Daniel Flores
“Daddy, wake up.”
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
Twelve-year-old Daniel Flores urging his eighty-eight year old grandfather, Solomon Augustus Pike, to open his eyes and get well. One week ago, Flores and Pike were viciously beaten after intruders broke into their Dangriga home and attacked them in bed. The assault left Pike on life support, while Flores suffered from a fractured skull, a broken left wrist, broken teeth and other cuts and bruises.
Today Flores has made remarkable progress and was discharged from the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. Although the standard five student of Holy Ghost School is still traumatized, he is happy to be well enough to go back home and see his friends.
Daniel Flores
“I really miss home, because usually when I am home it’s good, me and my grandfather. And I get to play everyday.”
Jacqueline Woods
“I know your friends can’t wait to see you? What you think you will do as you get back home?”
Daniel Flores
“When I get back home, go play basketball.”
Jacqueline Woods
“You love basketball?”
Daniel Flores
“Yeah.”
Jacqueline Woods
“You know a lot of people were praying for you and your granddad, a lot of people were concerned about your welfare, your health. How do you feel about that, knowing that so many people were praying for you?”
Daniel Flores
“I would like to thank everyone who prayed for me because I appreciate it.”
It is not certain how Flores will adapt to life at home, but his mother, Gale Flores, says she has been preparing her son for this day and believes that the love they have for one another will overcome the difficulties that lay ahead.
Gale Flores, Mother
“We talk about it and he is very eager, very eager to get back home and talk to his friends. And I told him that it is going to be okay and everything is going to be alright, being that he is still traumatized.”
“He’s recovering. The injury of the head is like, he is kind of slow, he is not himself right now but he is conscious, he knows folks, he remembers.”
“Daniel and I are very close and I think being here is very helpful. I am very patient and of course I have a lot of love for him. We are close and that is a very good thing.”
But as Daniel says goodbye to his grand dad in the hospital, it won’t be easy for him to leave Pike, who has been like a father to him. Pike, who is now able to open his eyes, has also shown signs of responding to voices. According to the family, the doctor has told them that the older man’s condition remains guarded, but stable at the K.H.M.H.
Denfield Lamb, Adopted Brother
“Yes, he talk to me, he tell us that because of his age he will take a long time to recover…but we leave everything to God.”
The family says they would like to especially Dangriga thank residents, the K.H.M.H. staff and the police for giving their loved ones the best possible care and quickly arresting those they believe are responsible for the crime. Jacqueline Woods for News 5.
Dangriga police have arrested three men for the crime. Twenty-four year old Eldon Leslie, twenty-two year old Dennis Nunez and twenty-one year old Albert Castro, all of Dangriga, have been charged with two counts of attempted murder, two counts of dangerous harm, one count of aggravated burglary and one count of use of deadly means of harm. All three have been remanded to Hattieville Prison.
