Between life-saving surgeries and months of rehabilitation, a 69-year-old Atlanta man hasn’t been able to leave the hospital since being nearly beaten to death in late August.
That changed Tuesday, when Jack Lipsuis was medically cleared to leave his rehab center, Channel 2 Action News reported.
The man was beaten with a baseball bat during a home invasion at the Centennial Place Apartment Homes, which is near Centennial Olympic Park, AJC.com previously reported. His alleged attacker, Frederick Hunter, 27, of Atlanta, remains in jail and faces three felonies in connection with this attack.
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Lipsuis told Channel 2 that he doesn’t remember a thing about the violent attack, which took place on the third floor of his building.
“I’ve been unlucky, and I’ve been lucky, you know,” he said. “I mean, I’m just glad I’m alive, I guess.”
The news station obtained the 911 call Lipsuis made just before being attacked. He had just witnessed a burglar attempting to kick in his neighbor’s door, but then the thief turned his attention to Lipsuis.
In the frantic call, he’s heard saying “someone just kicked in the door” followed by confusion and cries of pain. Then the line goes dead.
When officers arrived at the scene about 7 a.m., they spotted Hunter, who was covered in blood and breathing heavily, before he ran away, police said. Lipsuis was found moments later lying in a pool of his own blood.
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According to the incident report, doctors didn’t expect Lipsius to survive his first night at Grady Memorial Hospital due to “severe trauma to his head and face.” However, he survived multiple reconstructive surgeries and spent two months at Fulton Center for Rehabilitation, Channel 2 reported.
He’s unable to return to his old apartment for reasons aside from the trauma of that August day. He’s unable to drive and cook, and he requires a caretaker who can help him with his daily routine, the news station reported.
“It is an issue with his cognition,” Marquita Bradley, social services director for Fulton Center for Rehabilitation, told Channel 2. “He really doesn’t remember too much, and he is very vulnerable.”
The center is raising money for Lipsius, so he can find a place that suits his needs. Until then, he’s remaining in their care. Anyone who wishes to make a donation can contact Bradley by calling 404-762-8672 or emailing mbradley@fultoncenterrehab.com.
A GoFundMe page has also been created for him.
Hunter was arrested after being connected to another assault that took place three weeks earlier. On Aug. 7, he’s accused of punching a man, which caused him to fall to the ground and be knocked unconscious, according to an incident report.
Credit: Fulton County Sheriff's Office
Credit: Fulton County Sheriff's Office
Hunter asked the victim for 50 cents, and when the victim “began to scold the male for asking for change,” police said Hunter began swinging. The incident took place along Marietta Street near the Salvation Army shelter.
Witnesses were able to identify Hunter as the attacker in that assault, which helped investigators link him to Lipsuis’ attack, police said.
In connection with the Aug. 7 incident, he was charged with aggravated assault and aggravated battery, Fulton County jail records show. He also faces another count of aggravated battery, a count of aggravated assault with the intent to murder and a count of first-degree home invasion in the Aug. 27 attack.
He remains in the Fulton County Jail without bond.
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