A Colorado man who suffered from a “brutal” random attack has been removed from life support and has passed away.
A 34-year-old man, known as Jonny George according to his wife, was assaulted on the evening of October 20 outside a Circle K gas station while he was marking his wedding anniversary, as reported by police in Westminster, Colo., in a press release shared on Facebook.
According to CBS Colorado, Erika Haithe shared that she and her husband, George, had plans for a cozy evening at home enjoying movies to mark their fifth anniversary. At approximately 7:00 p.m. local time, a father of two made his way to the nearby Circle K, situated at the intersection of 121st Ave. and Huron St. in Westminster, to purchase some cigarettes.
“Which he does quite often and he’s always returned, and he never returned,” Halte told the outlet.
She mentioned that her attempts to reach George were unsuccessful, leading her to believe that her husband had made his way to his family’s residence close by.
“So I just had gone to bed in hopes of waking up with him next to me in the morning, she remembered, sharing that when she called George’s phone the next morning, a nurse at St. Anthony’s Hospital picked up and informed her that George had been airlifted in with serious injuries.
“I was upset that I went to sleep. I started having a lot of guilt. I was so sad that I couldn’t be with him, that I wasn’t there,” Halte told CBS Colorado.
As reported by a local NBC affiliate and an update from his wife, George faced a critical situation requiring emergency brain surgery. He spent three weeks in the hospital dealing with skull fractures, but ultimately, doctors declared him brain-dead following two brain bleeds. On November 10, he was removed from life support, and his organs were donated.
Halte informed CBS Colorado that her deceased husband’s wallet and phone remained untouched during the incident. She also mentioned to News 9 that George had called 911 prior to his attack to report a disturbance, but ultimately advised officers not to respond, believing he could make it home without any problems.
“There [were] no defense wounds, no nothing, this was all straight in the head. He’s not really one to have confrontations, you know. He’s more of a helper than anything,” Halte told CBS Colorado.
Authorities have indicated that an official cause of death has yet to be established, but the Adams County Coroner is expected to provide an announcement when the information is ready.
Authorities have reported that there have been no arrests made in the ongoing investigation. According to reports, authorities have not yet classified the case as a homicide, and due to the absence of security camera footage, law enforcement is seeking assistance from the community.
“Anyone who has witnessed this incident or has more information is asked to contact the Westminster Police Department at 303-658-4360,” the department wrote on Facebook. “Tipsters can also remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward up to $2,000 by calling Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP (7867).”
For Halte, who tied the knot with George in 2019 and formed a blended family with their respective children before the arrival of their son Jonathan Jr., the grief is overwhelming.