Published: March 20, 2008 01:16 pm            

Victim in altercation identified

LOUISVILLE — Randall D. Warren, 24, of Louisville appeared in Clay County Circuit Court Wednesday on a charge of aggravated battery of a senior citizen. The charge stems from an altercation Sunday between Warren and Charles Grover, a co-habitant of Chestnut Sheltered Care, Louisville.

Grover, who was transferred from Clay County Hospital to Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis Sunday, died Monday.

The medical examiner for Barnes verified Grover’s identity and an autopsy was performed by the St. Louis coroner’s office. Official results of the autopsy, however, will not be released for three or four weeks.

During Warren’s court appearance, Clay County State’s Attorney Lisa Wade said additional charges could be filed pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation. A preliminary hearing was set for April 9.

“I don’t see these charges getting any lighter,” said Clay County Sheriff Jim Sulsberger. “He may have had a heart attack from the exertion of energy in the incident, or he may have died from being punched and hitting the floor.”

“Grover never regained conciousness after the incident,” said Sulsberger. “ A lot of the people at the home have serious problems that make getting information difficult.”

Chestnut Sheltered Care is a group home.

The Clay County Sheriff’s Department responded to a call of an altercation at 905 W. Chestnut, Louisville, Sunday at 10:32 a.m.

When deputies arrived, the elderly victim was found unconscious on the floor. The victim was transported to Clay County Hospital and then transferred to Barnes.

Wade could not be reached for comment.

Tony Huffman can be reached at 217-347-7151 ext. 135 or tony.huffman@effinghamdailynews.com.