Cincinnati Police arrested a man Friday afternoon whom they say is behind a brutal attack on a mother of four. Ruth Stacey was hit more than thirty times in the head with a brick. 42 year old Norman McCrary is charged with felonious assault for the attack early Monday morning.
Stacey survived the attack and was released from University Hospital on Thursday night and spoke exclusively to Local 12's Shawn Ley. "I feel he's going to find me and kill me."
Stacey was in hiding when she spoke with Local 12 Thursday night. Police say 42 year old Norman McCrary attacked Stacey two times in 36 hours this week, according to police. "I literally thought I was going to die. I kept feeling my head getting cracked open. I thought, really, that my skull was crashed, that my brains were coming out. I really thought I was dead."
Stacey's boyfriend died last month of a heart attack. McCrary was a friend of his. Stacey says he showed up, insisting he would take care of her. When she refused, police say he punched her in the face. Police issued an arrest warrant and Stacey hid in her apartment.
Stacey thought it was safe to take out the garbage Monday morning at 2 a.m. But McCrary had apparently broken into the building and was waiting for her to appear. He didn't say a word to her during the attack. "Not one word. Nothing. Even when I was saying I have kids, I was saying stuff like Please stop, he didn't say not one word.
What does that tell you? He's a complete and utter psychopath."
400 stitches hold Stacey's scalp together, her nose is broken, her hands and wrist crushed when the tried to protect her head from the brick. Still, Stacey wants to warn other women. "I didn't feel I did anything to deserve any of this. And who knows what would set him off."
McCrary was arrested Friday afternoon by SOFAST units. A Crimestoppers tip led to his capture. The Local 12 Wheel of Justice was offering a $1000 reward for McCrary-that tipster will receive the cash reward.
