A man accused of attacking a real estate agent while dressed like a woman will stay locked up.
Jeff Shumate waived his preliminary hearing and chance to ask for bond Friday afternoon at the Gwinnett County jail.
Nearly 20 women, friends and fellow real estate agents, packed the small courtroom. They wanted to represent the victim, who is still recovering both physically and emotionally.
“I knew she couldn’t face him, but somebody’s got to stand for her,” said Sheri Winston, a ReMax agent and the victim’s partner.
"I was so proud that she fought and saved a life, her own life," said close friend Meredith McKeon. The victim was attacked on the front porch of a house she was showing the morning of July 22nd on Sugarloaf Parkway in Lawrenceville.
Police say she knew something wasn’t right when Shumate showed up wearing a wig, dress, high heels, black stockings, and bright pink lipstick. She stayed outside while he looked at the home. But then police say Shumate attacked her on the front porch, before she was able to get away and wave down a passing car for help.
“We still talk about it,” says Winston. “Different things come up. She remembers stuff, she remembers things she didn’t remember the first day.”
The women want to make sure Shumate is not released and vow to return for any of his appearances in court. He’s been convicted of similar crimes before…in 2001, and more recently in 2012. He was out of prison serving probation at the time of the most recent attack.
“We want to make sure this person did not get out again,” said Winston.
The victim’s close friend says it will take longer for her to mentally recover, but is over the initial horror.
“Now she’s angry and wants this guy put away. He’s violent and he needs to be off the streets,” said McKeon.
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