Whiteville Police arrested a male and a female for the save beating of a senior citizen Friday.
John Lewis Hall Sr., 80, was found beaten and dumped in a canal in a remote location off Northeast Road by a passerby. Whiteville Police took over the case from the sheriff’s office after it was discovered Hall was robbed, assaulted and kidnapped form his Whiteville home.
Eden Jacobs and Damarkus McClinnham are in the Columbus County Detention Center under $575,000 bond each, charged with assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury, breaking, entering and larceny, first degree kidnapping, larceny of personal property, and burning personal property, according to Lt. Andre Jackson of the WPD.
Hall was allegedly robbed, beaten and kidnapped in his own vehicle, possibly sometime Thursday, Major William Hinz of the WPD said. He was found Friday morning by a man riding the dirt road heading for a fishing spot, according to Chief Deputy Aaron Herring of the sheriff’s office. Hall had been in the canal for at least several hours. He had severe head trauma and other injuries. Deputies and Lake Waccamaw Rescue pulled Hall from the canal.
WPD, Whiteville Fire and the Whiteville Fire Marshall were called to West Hay Street near the Beautiful Light Inn Saturday morning to investigate a burning car. Investigators discovered the car was Hall’s vehicle, Jackson said.
Jacobs and McClinnham were identified early in the fire investigation, and were taken into custody Saturday.
Hall is well known as a “Generous man“ and foster parent, having given a home to numerous children for years.
The Perpetrators should be ashamed of themselves for beating an elderly defenseless & helpless person. Why did you feel that you had to go to such an extreme and set the man’s vehicle on fire, beat him up & ohhh you didnt end there you threw him into a canal-left him there to die!!!!????? I’m sure you both thought your crime would go unsolved but God sees & knows everything! I’m so thankful that this person survived because who knows the type of crime you would have committed next. I hope your hearts realize what you both done!!! May you be convicted both physically & spiritually to the extent that you never do this to another person again.