87-year-old woman injured in Garrettsville home invasion; Deputies need help finding suspect

GARRETTSVILLE, Ohio - The Portage County Sheriff is investigating a home invasion Tuesday afternoon in Garrettsville.

The victim was 87-year-old Dorothy Bailey.

“She is a caring, Christian, loving person,” said Lillian Koval, a good friend and neighbor to Bailey for nearly 50 years.

According to the sheriff, a man knocked on the Bailey’s door. When she opened it, he knocked her to the ground, found her purse and fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of money. The suspect wore a knit cloth to cover his face.

“The individual, needless to say, was pretty desperate for money,” said Portage County Sheriff David Doak.

The suspect is described as a while male, approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall and 150 pounds.

“I’m scared for her,” said Koval, who added that her friend “wouldn’t even hurt a fly.”

Bailey is recovering in the hospital from a broken hip.

The sheriff wouldn’t say whether Bailey and the suspect know each other, but neighbors said he was her handyman.

“She’s good to everybody,” said Koval.

Neighbors said the widow, who devoted most of her time to her church, is nearly famous in her small town for helping those less fortunate. She is also described as an animal lover and often cared for others’ pets.

The sheriff requests that anyone with information concerning this incident to contact the Portage County Sheriff’s Office at 330-296-5100.