GIRARD Police: Death of father will likely alter charges

Family members found the father in his blood-soaked pajamas.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
GIRARD -- Police say a more severe charge may be filed against the son of a 74-year-old man who died Friday morning after he was beaten.
Lanny Tackett, 49, of Miller Street in the Hillcrest Mobile Home Park, is charged with felonious assault. He is in the Trumbull County Jail in lieu of a $100,000 bond.
But his father, Carl Tackett, died at St. Elizabeth Health Center, where he was being treated.
"I anticipate it will be ruled a homicide," police Capt. Frank Bigowsky said today, noting a more severe charge will be filed when the county coroner rules in the death.
According to a police report, Carl Tackett was admitted to St. Elizabeth last Wednesday with cuts and bruises.
Carl Tackett, who lived with his son, at first told the medical staff that he suffered the injuries in a fall, the report said.
The staff told police that Carl Tackett was admitted for what appeared to be a heart attack and had taken a turn for the worse.
Father/son dispute
During the investigation, the report said, it was found that on Nov. 30, the father and son began arguing.
According to the report, the father wanted his son out of the home because of the abuse by his son.
Relatives told police that Lanny Tackett told them, "You better check on dad. I busted him."
When relatives checked the mobile home, it appeared the father had been beaten and was in his blood-soaked pajamas.
There was bruising on his face, arms, and legs and a cut over the eye. The older man then told relatives that his son had beaten him, the report said.
They had found his mobile home door barricaded.
Carl Tackett was taken to the hospital Dec. 3, where he suffered a stroke. Police were told by the medical staff that it appeared he might die when taken off life support.
Lanny Tackett is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing at 10 a.m. Friday in Girard Municipal Court.
Bigowsky said that the case will be bound over to the county grand jury and that an amended charge may be filed because of the father's death.
yovich@vindy.com