DELTONA, Fla. – A Deltona homeowner was attacked and injured in his bed by a home intruder, according to Volusia County deputies.
Thomas Reilly, 64, said he believes the intruder entered his home through the garage door which he left cracked for his cats.
Deputies said Reilly was woken up just after 1 a.m. at his home near 1800 Portview Avenue by a man who told him to shut up and stay in his bed, then started hitting the man with a hammer or metal object.
"I couldn't even get off the mattress. The first time he hit me was here in the forehead," Reilly said Friday after being released from the hospital.
Stitches now cover parts of Reilly's head and face, even his hand, from trying to defend himself from the brutal beating. He says he woke up to an intruder standing in his bedroom.
"I said, 'what are you doing here? Get out of here,' and he said, 'Give me your money or you're going to die tonight," Reilly said.
The 64-year-old says he didn't have any money to give the intruder who kept violently attacking him, demanding he hand over cash.
"So he hit me again and I said, 'Please don't hit me again. I don't have any money," Reilly said.
The intruder than ran out the front door leaving Reilly bloody and badly beaten.
Before the attack Reilly needed help getting around on his own but he now needs his cane and wheelchair more than ever before.
"I was always fearful of something like this happening because I'm here alone. I'm just a sitting duck. I'm helpless," Reilly said.
The man was covering his face with a mask and was also wearing a hat or hoodie. He is white about 5'10 in his 20's. Contact the sheriff's office if you have any information on the incident.