World War II Vet, 94, In Induced Coma After Violent Modesto Home Invasion
MODESTO (CBS13) – Richard Iverson opened his eyes Sunday, but still can't talk. He's in an induced coma after his wife says intruders broke all the bones in his face and left him for dead.
"I found him in the breezeway in a puddle of blood, and I mean a puddle of blood," Mairine Iverson said.
Mairine's 94-year-old husband – a World War II vet – is in the fight of his life. Their neighbor Tristen Meserve was the first to come help following the vicious home invasion Friday night.
"It was just the way she screamed. I mean, people don't normally scream like that," Meserve said.
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Meserve was listening to music in his backyard across the street, but heard a scream so loud he jumped his fence and ran to help.
"I helped him in, got him, sat him down at the table, and tried to put pressure on his nose because it was pretty bad, his face was split," Meserve said.
Mairine says Richard went outside to turn off the lights before bed when she heard him yell for help. On her way out to him, a masked woman confronted her in her kitchen.
"She said, 'Be calm. Be calm, be calm.' I thought I better be," Mairine said. "She took off down the hall, and in no time a man, I know it was a man, raced out through the kitchen."
She says the pair that beat Richard also took off with one of their bedroom drawers. It was full of papers and maybe some cash – that's it.
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"It's just a senseless crime," said Bill Iverson, the couple's son. "It's just killed my family. These people need to be caught."
The couple's son has reinforced the front door where he thinks the robbers broke in. He's also gone to all the neighbors and told them to lock their doors.
Mairine is just as angry over it. But she's also trying to be strong for the one man who's always been her rock.
"Oh yes, four major battles in the Philippines … in the Pacific. So now he's got another battle to head to," Mairine said.
Police have no clear suspect description, but the family is pleading for anyone with information on call Modesto police.