Man Gets Probation After Beating Elderly Mother Nearly To Death

MOUNT CLEMENS (WWJ/AP) - A Macomb County man has been sentenced to 18 months of probation in the brutal beating of his elderly mother after she refused to let him use her car.

Thomas Gulas, 36, received his punishment on Wednesday, which also includes mandatory inpatient substance-abuse treatment. Gulas earlier pleaded no contest to aggravated domestic violence and malicious destruction of property charges.

Gulas, who has already served more than 200 days in jail, apologized to his parents in court, saying he loved them and appreciated their support. His mother, Evelyn Gulas, said she wanted her son to get help, not to be incarcerated.

The charges stem from an incident that happened last September at the Super 8 Motel on Little Mack Avenue in Roseville. When officers arrived on the scene, they discovered Evelyn Gulas, then 77-years-old, lying on the ground unconscious, suffering from extensive head and face trauma.

According to police, Thomas Gulas was at the hotel and had apparently called his mother for a ride -- but when she arrived, he demanded the car. When Evelyn Gulas refused to allow her son to take the car, police say Thomas Gulas became enraged and handed down the beating.

Witnesses told police that after beating the victim, Thomas Gulas "went crazy" and began jumping on cars in the parking lot, kicking in vehicle windshields and breaking off side view mirrors -- damaging six vehicles.

He then dialed 911. "Mom my mom got hurt. She fell down," Thomas Gulas is heard telling the operator in a recording released by police.

"My mom got hurt," he said repeatedly. "My mom, my mom! She fell back. Please save my mom! ... I don't know what happened."

Evelyn Gulas was rushed to the hospital where doctors discovered a brain hemorrhage and were worried she wasn't going to survive. Her condition quickly improved and she was released shortly thereafter.

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