Son Charged After Elderly Woman Found Beaten In Parking Lot

ROSEVILLE (WWJ) - A 35-year-old Eastpointe man has been charged with assault after police say he beat his elderly mother nearly to death.

Roseville police say they received a deluge of calls around 11 p.m. Wednesday about a man beating an elderly woman in the parking lot of the Super 8 Motel on Little Mack Avenue.

When officers arrived on the scene, they discovered 77-year-old Evelyn Gulas lying unconscious in the parking lot, suffering from extensive head and face trauma.

The woman was rushed to a local hospital and is currently listed in critical condition. Police say she may have suffered a brain hemorrhage and might not survive her injuries.

Witness statements indicate that a white male was arguing with the victim over the use of her car when without warning, he began to strike the victim in the face and head, knocking her to the ground, according to police.

After beating the victim, witnesses say the man went "crazy" and began jumping on cars in the parking lot, kicking in vehicle windshields and breaking off side view mirrors, causing damage to six vehicles within the lot before running off.

Police say an investigation revealed the victim's grown son, Thomas Gulas, was at the hotel and had apparently called his mother for a ride, — but when she arrived, he demanded the car. When his mother refused to allow her son to take the car, police say he allegedly became enraged and handed down the beating.

That's when he dialed 911. " ... Mom my mom got hurt. She fell down," Gulas is heard telling the operator in a recording released by police.

Gulas was arrested without incident and arraigned, Thursday afternoon, in 39th District Court in Roseville on Thursday on for assault less than murder, a 20 year felony, and other charges.

Gulas protested when Judge Catherine Steenland set bond at $150,000 cast or surety.

"No," said Gulas. "No! That's way too high."

Gulas wanted to be released, he said, to be with his mother, who remained in an intensive care unit, Thursday afternoon, in critical condition.

Authorities say Gulas has a prior criminal record, including two arrests: one for drugs, and another for domestic violence. "So this kind of fits a pattern that he's been following for quite some time," said Roseville Police Chief James Berlin.

A preliminary exam is set for next month.