Roosevelt Thomas, Esquire, 73, of Vandalia, died peacefully Friday, November 4, 2022 in the comfort of his family's presence. He was born March 6, 1949 in
DECATUR â The heartbroken family of a Decatur man left paralyzed after being struck over the head spoke of their emotional pain Wednesday as his female attacker was sentenced to five years in prison.
The family of 23-year-old McClain A. Conrad said they reluctantly went along with the plea deal that saw Michelle R. Batman plead guilty in Macon County Circuit to a charge of inflicting aggravated battery that caused great bodily harm. An additional charge of aggravated battery involving the use of a deadly weapon was dismissed as part of the deal negotiated by defense attorney Jacqueline Hollis-George.
Conradâs grandmother and guardian, Karla Thomas, said her grandson is now a prisoner in his own body since Batman slammed a 2-by-4 section of framing lumber against his skull during a drunken argument Sept. 5. Conrad is paralyzed from the neck down and able to communicate only by blinking.