Blind Ga. woman beaten, in hospital; acquaintance arrested

A Paulding County man was arrested Saturday in connection with a beating that left a blind woman in the hospital, according to a sheriff’s spokesman.

Charles Brandon Ayers, 37, was taken into custody without incident in western Paulding County, Sgt. Ashley Henson said.

Ayers was a lifelong acquaintance of the victim, Tammy Usher, according to Henson.

Usher suffered facial fractures, lacerations, contusions and severe bruising.

Ayers and Usher left her home in Paulding County on April 26 in the family truck, Henson said, and she suspected nothing. Three days later, Ayers dropped off Usher at the Love’s Travel Stop on I-75 in the Bartow County city of Emerson, the sheriff’s office said.

Ayers asked a friend to take Usher to a hospital because he had warrants, according to Henson.

Before Saturday, Ayers hadn’t been seen since April 29.

Ayers is charged with aggravated battery and theft by conversion, according to Henson. He is also wanted in Douglas County on a charge of aggravated assault for allegedly beating another woman.

In other news:

The Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant in Marietta closed for 12 weeks of renovations and reopened Thursday.

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Steve Burns

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