Adult son, his girlfriend charged with abusing 61-year-old woman

Victim says she was nearly killed by Jeffrey McDonald

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A 61-year-old Jacksonville woman said she was nearly killed by her own son at her home early Sunday morning.

Her son, 37-year-old Jeffrey McDonald, and 23-year-old Lacy Long are facing charges of elderly abuse. 

The victim, Linda, told News4Jax on Monday that her son and his girlfriend, Long, began tearing up her house about 2 a.m. Sunday and then McDonald assaulted her.

"My son, Jeffery McDonald, came running out here and started choking me and jumping on me," said Linda, who News4Jax has chosen not to identify by her last name for safety reasons.

Linda said her son allowed her to go the bathroom, where she used her cellphone to call 911. News4Jax crime and safety analyst said that was a smart move.

"In this case, the person did the right thing by going into a bathroom and dialing 911. It's difficult to tell what they should and shouldn't do. It really depends on the elderly person's physical capabilities," Smith said. 

In this case, Linda's physical capabilities are limited. She depends on an oxygen tank for fresh air and she's recovering from hip replacement surgery. Unfortunately, Linda said, her son heard her call police while she was in the bathroom.

"He shoved me down on the floor real hard," she said. "In the bathroom. I went to get back up and he shoved me again."

As her son began choking her again, Linda said, she begged his girlfriend to make him stop. 

"'I hope he kills you b****,'" Linda said. "That's what she said."

The victim said her son taped her mouth and her hands and then threatened to set her home on fire with her inside. 

According to an arrest report, McDonald said, "You're gunna die tonight because I'm gunna kill you. I'm gunna tape you up and set the house on fire. Either way you're gunna die."

By the time officers arrived, police said, McDonald and Long had left the home but were eventually captured and arrested.

"I think he should get at least five to 10 years for what he did to me," Linda said.

According to the victim, the abuse actually began weeks ago. Linda said she came home from the hospital, and found drugs in her house. Police on Monday evening confiscated drugs and paraphernalia.

"Him shooting up whatever he can shoot up. A guy was in there. He was on drugs. Then there would be another guy who came here -- in and out -- making crack and selling drugs," Linda said. 

Smith said it's sometimes difficult to tell if elder abuse is occurring, especially if it's happening right next door.

"But if all of a sudden, they're not allowed to come outside and you don't see them as often as you have in the past, or if you go to the house and check on them, family members may not allow you to see them -- that could be a sign that there is some abuse," Smith said. 

Smith added that another sign of abuse is unexplained bruises on an elderly person.

McDonald and Long were booked into the Duval County Jail. He is being held on $100,000 bond, and she's being held on $75,000 bond.


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