Friends and loved ones said the Butts County grandmother who was beaten to death, allegedly by her grandson, was “an all-around good person.”
“I couldn’t help but to cry because I knew she was a sweet person,” neighbor Maury Webb told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution after hearing about 61-year-old Glenda Woodard’s death Tuesday.
“She was a very loving person,” family member Mozal Mayfield told Channel 2 Action News.
Both were baffled at what led to the violent actions Butts County Sheriff’s investigators are attributing to JeNorman Bland, Woodard’s grandson.
“I believe he loved her. I really do,” Mayfield said. “I know there’s no reason for him not to love her.”
Bland, 18, was arrested Tuesday and is facing several charges, including murder, authorities said.
Allegedly, he attacked Woodard with a baseball bat because she would not take him to the store to buy cigarettes, according to Butts County Sheriff’s officials.
Woodard, was found dead inside her home near Jackson around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, authorities said.
“Woodard appeared to be dead from multiple blunt trauma wounds, said Butts County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Darryl Powers who confirmed that Woodard was struck several times with a baseball bat.
Butts County Sheriff Gary Long told 750 AM and 95.5 FM WSB News/Talk Radio that Bland told investigators he went to Woodard’s house asking for a ride to the store, but she was getting ready to go to work. Bland went outside, grabbed a bat, then came back in and began chasing and hitting her, according to Long.
He said Bland stole his grandmother’s car after the beating, but was later arrested by Griffin police.
“He confessed to the murder,” Long said.
Bland is charged with murder, false imprisonment, kidnapping and armed robbery.
He is being held at the Butts County jail and will appear in court for a bond hearing Thursday at 9:30 a.m., authorities said.
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