Man, 89, Arrested in Beating of Woman Friend, 83

An 89-year-old man is being held on suspicion of using a thick wooden cane to beat an unidentified 83-year-old woman early Wednesday morning, police said.

The unidentified suspect has shared a house in the 13900 block of Wyandotte Street with the woman for 12 years, police said.

Neither the victim nor the suspect, who police described as suffering from the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, remember anything about the assault, said Los Angeles Police Detective Jon Anderson, who heads the investigation.

The victim suffered a broken left leg and right forearm, fractured cheekbone and multiple cuts and bruises. She is listed in serious condition at Northridge Hospital Medical Center, Anderson said.

The suspect was arrested based on spontaneous statements made to police at the house, Anderson said. The suspect has not been charged, he said.

“He doesn’t remember what he said to police, and I don’t know if he realizes he’s in jail,” Anderson said.

“His memory and hearing and understanding were so poor I couldn’t read him his Miranda rights. The victim has no idea what happened and she doesn’t believe he did it,” Anderson added.

Police found the weapon, a bloody three-quarter-inch-thick, 3-foot cane, in the bedroom where the attack occurred.

Paramedics responded to a 911 call made from the home at 1:40 a.m., said Los Angeles Fire Department officials.