Kurtis Palmateer was arrested Saturday night after he called police to let them know that he'd just tried to kill his grandmother. Her offense: she failed to cook his dinner and has an annoying dog.
According to court records obtained by New Times, Palmateer called police about 11:30 p.m. Saturday and told the dispatcher that he wasn't sure if she was dead, but he tried to kill his grandmother.
The victim, a 65-year-old woman -- who has lupus, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, degenerative spine disease, and can't walk on her own without a walker or wheelchair -- was found by police hiding in a bathroom. She was bleeding and her face was swollen.
The grandmother told police that Palmateer became angry with her for no apparent reason. He started hitting her in the face with closed fists, knees, and kicked her multiple times.
The grandmother managed to escape the attack and locked herself in a bathroom inside the home.
Palmateer was waiting at the home for police to arrive,
and was taken into custody within minutes of calling 9-1-1.
During a taped interview following the attack, Palmateer admitted to
beating his grandmother. He told police he was mad that she failed to
cook him dinner and that her dog was annoying him. So, he beat her in
the face with at least 12 punches, knee strikes, "hammer punches," and
kicks.
Palmateer's grandmother suffered a broken left cheek bone, a broken
nose, two black eyes, and had bleeding to the left side of her brain.
She's expected to recover.
Palmateer was booked into a Maricopa County jail on one count each of
aggravated assault, abuse of a vulnerable adult, and aggravated assault
of a victim who is bound or restrained.
