Michael Dougherty: Florida man, 40, shoves hatchet into woman's head, booked for attempted second-degree murder
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA: The condition of Lisa Rogers Eaton, 56, of St Petersburg remains life-threatening after police found a hatchet protruding from her head on Tuesday, November 22. The man suspected of driving the hatchet into her for an attempt to murder has been identified as 40-year-old Michael Doughtery, who lived with her in the same home as he was let in by Eaton after he lost his job.
Pinellas County Sheriff's office said, "On Tuesday, November 22, 2022, at approximately 10:36 am, deputies responded to 4000 24th Street North, Lot 230 in St. Petersburg in reference to an attempted murder. According to detectives, deputies located a 56-year-old female with a hatchet protruding from her head and she was transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. The suspect, later identified as 40-year-old Michel Dougherty fled from the scene prior to deputies' arrival."
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On Tuesday, November 22, investigators were able to find Dougherty's car near Gainesville using several investigation tactics. According to police, on Thursday, November 24, at about 2.50 am, Dougherty was pulled over by an Alachua County Deputy and brought into jail for an attempted second-degree murder warrant before being transferred to the Alachua County Jail.
Meanwhile, Rogers' family is heartbroken and they assembled to say the last goodbyes to the woman who is "caring and someone who thinks the best of everyone," reported WLFA. “She’ll help anybody,” Donna Voye said. “She’ll give you anything you want,” said her sister. That's what Eaton was doing for Dougherty, according to Voye.
She claimed Eaton allowed him to live with her and her husband after he lost his job. “We don’t understand it. We can’t understand it because she wouldn’t hurt anybody. No family should ever get a call like we got telling us that or them that their family member is brutally attacked like our little sister was,” Voye added, as per the report.
According to the sheriff's office, the report mentioned, Eaton was in stable condition at the hospital but is being constantly followed due to the severity of the injuries. However, Voye stated that family and friends will gather at the hospital on Saturday morning, November 26 to be with Eaton, say a prayer, and have a doctor turn off her respirator. The family is also busy raising money for her funeral while the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office is still investigating the incident.