MORGANTON, N.C. — A judge sentenced a Morganton woman to 13-17 years in prison for her role in an assault that involved a hammer and left a man with serious injuries.
Investigators say Patricia Hunley pleaded guilty to attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury and robbery with a dangerous weapon charges.
Hunley and co-defendant, Stacy Heatley, were involved in an assault and robbery at a residence on Pete Brittain Road on Dec. 16, 2016. A news release says:
Hunley called the victim and requested help in moving from her mobile home. The two began assaulting the victim with a hammer, knocking him unconscious. The victim was tied up and beaten in the head then robbed of $6,500 in cash and his pickup truck.
The victim had severe injuries and was transported by helicopter to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte where he was treated for multiple skull fractures and swelling on his brain. The injuries were described as life-threatening, and he was hospitalized for more than two weeks.
The victim’s truck was recovered in Marion, and the defendants later were arrested at a Winston-Salem hotel after numerous people contacted law enforcement officers about their location.
Through interviews with the defendants, it was discovered that Hunley had planned to lure the victim to her residence in order for the assault and robbery to take place.
Heatley pleaded guilty to the same offenses in Burke County in March 2017 and was given an active prison term of 25 to 31 years. He also pleaded guilty to charges of attempted murder and robbery with a dangerous weapon in McDowell County.
