An elderly Vero Beach couple, who investigators say were attacked by their grandson, is still recovering from the brutal incident.
Scott Horn, 36, was arrested Sunday for trying to kill his grandparents, according to authorities.
Dorothy Kelly is being treated at Lawnwood Regional Medical Center. Her husband, Tom Kelly, is being treated at the Indian River Medical Center.
Their son, and the accused attacker's uncle, Keith Kelly, spoke to WPTV Tuesday night about the incident, and why it may have happened. The injuries to Keith Kelly's parents are brutal.
"Scott is 6 feet, 180 pounds. Both my mom and dad together probably weigh that," Kelly said.
He recalls getting a phone call from a victim's advocate at the Indian River County Sheriff's Office saying his parents had been attacked.
"I almost fell on the floor. I went numb, you know?" Kelly said.
Horn is accused of violently beating his grandparents. Dorothy was left with broken ribs, a broken neck, broken back, sternum and bad bruising.
Kelly says his father, Tom, has bad bruising and broken ribs, too.
"When I first looked at her, I still have that image. I was like, 'How could somebody do this to another human being?'" Kelly said.
Investigators got a 911 call early Sunday morning from the Tom and Dorothy Kelly's neighbor.
"My neighbor just came over. I guess his grandson is beating them up," the neighbor said in the 911 call.
Tom eventually takes the phone, injured and bleeding.
"I had to sneak out of the house," Tom said to the dispatcher. "He's got my wife in the bathroom."
"Is she locked in the bathroom by herself?" asked the dispatcher. "She tried to lock it, but he broke it open," Tom replied.
Kelly said his parents helped support Horn ever since Horn's parents died as a teenager. Horn's mother was Keith Kelly's sister.
"They put their heart out to try to help him," Kelly said.
The ultimate betrayal, Keith thinks Horn attacked Tom and Dorothy when Dorothy confronted Horn about him possibly stealing her prescription medication.
Investigators, however, are still working to confirm a motive.
"He needs professional help. This is the type of human being that doesn't need to be on the streets," Kelly said.
He says he and his parents will be among the family fighting back to keep Horn behind bars for life.
Horn is jailed on a $300,000 bond.
