The reporting party had called 911 after discovering the victim while walking home and added that the victim’s neighbor, 56-year-old Donald Purcell, had been in an argument with the victim earlier in the day.
Apparently, some of Purcell’s property was blocking access to the front of the victim’s home and when she asked him to move the items, Purcell refused. Around 4 PM, the victim moved the items to Purcell’s driveway. This dispute has been ongoing for some time. Witnesses indicated a hat left at the scene likely belonged to Purcell.
On November 4, 2016, at approximately 7 PM, YCSO deputies were dispatched to the 13000 block of Crown King Road in Cleator, regarding an assault that just occurred. When deputies arrived, they found a 60-year-old woman lying on the ground with severe head injuries, including deep lacerations, and covered in blood. Deputies rendered first aid pending arrival of personnel from the Mayer Fire Department. The victim was unable to speak. She was treated and flown to a Phoenix area hospital.
When deputies contacted Purcell at his home, he was wearing only shorts and denied any knowledge of an assault. Deputies noted scratches on his legs, a cut on one of his fingers and some blood on his wrist. The deputies also noticed a pair of shoes nearby with visible blood droplets on them. Purcell was detained and continued to deny any involvement in the victim’s assault.
Based on a timeline of actions as described by witnesses, along with blood evidence and clothing linking Purcell to the incident, he was arrested and charged with 2nd Degree Attempted Murder and Aggravated Assault. Purcell was booked at the Camp Verde Detention Center and remains in-custody on $80,000 bond.
The victim remains hospitalized in intensive care suffering from several blunt force trauma injuries to the head. YCSO Detectives are handling the investigation.