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PAYSON — Benjamin Partridge was standing in his Payson driveway in the morning hours of Aug. 14, building a wooden stand for his new fish tank when the attack happened.
With his back turned and his music playing, a 17-year-old boy began beating Partridge with a sledgehammer, “making direct contact with Ben’s skull” and instantly knocking him unconscious, according to a GoFundMe account set up by the victim’s family.
The 17-year-old, whose name has not been released because of his age, then began attacking Partridge’s neighbor, who runs a daycare facility and had “screamed at him to stop,” the GoFundMe reads.
But not before leaving the 41-year-old Payson man with a fractured skull, hip and rib, a collapsed lung, damaged spleen and kidneys, injuries to his eyes, and more, according to a statement from Payson police.
Between five and six children, ages 5 years old or younger, at the day care also suffered what police called mostly superficial wounds. None were seriously injured.
Police have not released a motive for the attack.
Partridge remains in the hospital, currently stable but listed in critical condition in the intensive care unit, Payson police say.
“His brain has not stopped swelling as of yet and he still has the danger of passing away,” his family said. “He has a long arduous journey ahead, as well as the family. He will need lots and lots of rehabilitation and accommodations.”
The 17-year-old was booked into the Slate Canyon Youth Detention Center Saturday for investigation of attempted aggravated murder, aggravated assault, aggravated child abuse, child abuse, burglary, obstruction of justice, criminal trespass and disorderly conduct, according to police.
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