Beating victim remains in coma
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Sandra Cole, 47, was severely beaten at this trailer home in the Country Courts Trailer Home Park on South Old Highway 11 near Orfordville. Cole remains in a coma at Mercy Hospital in Janesville and her condition might not improve, said Rock County Sheriff Bob Spoden.
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ORFORDVILLE — Investigators say they can't rule out a random attack in the May 10 beating of a rural Orfordville woman described as a friendly neighbor who helped downtrodden kids.
Sandra L. Cole, 47, of 3119 S. Old Highway 11, No. 35, Orfordville, remained in a coma Tuesday at Mercy Hospital in Janesville, and her condition might not change, Rock County Sheriff Bob Spoden said.
Cole was found unconscious at 1 p.m. Sunday, May 10, in her home in Country Courts Trailer Home Park, officials said.
The attack might have been random, Spoden said, but the assaulter likely intended to target a trailer park resident because the neighborhood is isolated and invisible from any roads.
No similar assaults have been reported to indicate a pattern of crime, Spoden said.
People are not believed to be in danger, he said, but residents should practice good safety techniques and lookout for anything unusual.
Investigators have no suspect in the attack, he said, and evidence is awaiting analysis at a crime lab.
Detectives also are awaiting results from the crime lab to determine whether Cole was sexually assaulted, Spoden said.
Complicating the investigation is that Cole is unconscious and can't be interviewed, he said.
A deputy was conducting a burglary investigation at a neighbor's home when Cole's family member reported her "down," sheriff's officials said.
It appeared Cole had been lying injured since the previous night, the same night the neighbor's home was burglarized, sheriff's officials said.
Detectives have concluded through interviews that the burglary and the attack are not related, Spoden said.
Country Courts has an upper and lower court along a gravel, dead-end road. It is surrounded by farmland. The trailer homes are close together. Neighbors are close-knit.
Sam Woollums, who lives across the street from Cole, said Cole was a wonderful neighbor.
She often took in troubled teens, he said, and she scolded kids if they caused trouble in the neighborhood.
"She's like the trailer park mother," Woollums said. "She'd get out there and holler at them, tell them to knock it off and get out of here."
She often gave neighbors water or coffee, he said, and she let people use her telephone.
"If there was anybody in the trailer park that needed anything, she'd give it to them," he said. "She's a woman that never had anything, but she deserved everything."
Cole liked gardening, playing on her computer and socializing with neighbors, Woollums said. Everyone knew her.
"She was the type of person that knew everything about everybody," he said. "Everybody around here is pretty much devastated that of all people, this happened to Sandy."
Tonya Kinney, who lives across from Cole, said Cole had five children. She was a single mother. She also had three dogs, two birds, one cat and several fish.
"She loved animals," Kinney said.
Cole worked hard at Swiss Colony in Monroe, Kinney said, and she wanted to help her children pay for college.
Cole kept her home clean, she said, and she welcomed everyone inside.
"I don't understand why anybody would have done something like this," Kinney said. "She was the type of person that would pretty much give you the shirt off her back."
Dewayne Morrison, a next-door neighbor, said Cole has lived near him for about eight years. He said she always made a point to say, "Hi."
"She's nice to everybody," Morrison said. "She was always good to the kids in the neighborhood."
Cole often was outside raking or mowing her yard. She gave neighbors sugar, bread or juice if they needed it, Morrison said.
"I don't know why anybody would want to do this to her. I don't understand that at all," he said. "There is no rhyme or reason as to why this would happen to her."
Jul 3, 2009 at 3:09 a.m.
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Now that she is in a new hospital. Not saying Mercy didnt do there job! She is in braces, moving around, still not talking clearly but she remember her family and friends. Not sure about if she remembers specifics or what happened or not. Still waiting for evidence to come back from lab. I dont know if anyone is still watching this article but I thought I would leave an update. Thanks again to all for thier prayers and keep them coming.
Jun 9, 2009 at 2:32 p.m.
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Sandy is moving around alot more! I hope and pray she comes out of this and can tell the police who did this! Way to go Sandy keep getting better and show everyone how strong of a person you are! Please continue to pray for Sandy and her family!!!
Jun 2, 2009 at 4:58 p.m.
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UPDATE: She is being moved from Mercy to a rehibilitation clinic out of town. She is still not awake but she is moving around more and more everyday. Keep the prayers going. I wish the gazette would update this story more often.
May 26, 2009 at 7:33 p.m.
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UPDATE: Family went to see her yesturday and they say that she was moving her legs and patting the bed with her hand, she is still not awake tho. Keep the prayers going!
May 24, 2009 at 10:33 a.m.
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That is my worry. Her body is healing faster becuase she is 'sleeping' but Im afraid once she wakes up she wont remember anything that happened. There are still not many updates, not much change. Her kids are just waiting for her TO wake up, it'd be great if she remembers, but really we just want her to wake up! Thanks for the continued prayers I will keep passing them on to her and her kids!
May 23, 2009 at 5:40 p.m.
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Pray harder everyone. I do believe the longer she's in a coma the worse the outcome is for her in the end.
I took care of near coma and comatose patients at the RCHCC and I hate to think of such a wonderful woman suffering such a fate.
Sandy and her family are in my thoughts and prayers.
May 23, 2009 at 3:13 p.m.
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btw nowwhat it says "Sandra Cole, 47, was severely beaten at this trailer home in the Country Courts Trailer Home Park on South Old Highway 11 NEAR Orfordville." They call her Orfordville woman becuase that is the closest town and where her children went to school.
May 22, 2009 at 3:41 p.m.
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I left Orfordville for a reason 5 years ago so I would not have moved back there before this happened. I do however have family there. Sandy is my aunt, we have friends in the park also. Saying they let it get rundown so thats what happens is more or less saying that these things dont happen in places like Beverly Hills. Its a crazy statement. I also have family in town in Orfordville we visit there all the time. I just dont like the schools more to the fact some teachers and principals and that is why I wouldnt want to live there now. I wouldnt want to put my daughter in that school.
Everyone who is praying thank you, I will pass them on to her and her kids!
May 22, 2009 at 9:25 a.m.
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This is so sad~~Sandy and her family will be in my prayers!!
May 22, 2009 at 7:20 a.m.
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NOWWHAT, I AM from around here, and I have to be honest, I haven't been to the court in years, but, my point was, you were saying that it is run down, therefore, that is why this happen. I was comparing that to people who say if a woman dresses a certain way and gets raped she deserves it. I was not talking about THIS woman, I was generally speaking. It was a comparrison of how no matter the curcumstances, the crime is not warranted. Just because a place is run down doesn't mean we have to except that crime is just going to happen. Oh, and I do pray for myself, almost hourly, I tend to need it.... ;o) You just sound as if you are a bitter person. That is all, and it is sad for me to think of people walking through life always being bitter, but if you are happy, I am happy for you. :) I do have to admit that foot and orf have both gone down hill since I was a little girl 30 some years ago where they used to be nice little towns, but that still doesn't mean crime should be excepted....some people just can't afford to make things 'pretty'.
May 21, 2009 at 11:46 p.m.
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Rummagesalesrock, how does my comment about the trail court being allowed to run down go to she was dressed too provocatively, therefore, she deserved to be raped.
Don't you think that is a bit much? I think you should pray for yourself. I am doing just fine.
If you were from around here (maybe you are)and if jwhite used to live there then you would both know what I am talking about. I would also bet that neither of you would move out there now.
May 21, 2009 at 10:54 p.m.
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Call...I think you are probably right. Most crimes of this nature aren't random, they are usually done by someone scorned. So sad, and I hope that the swelling going down, means she will regain awareness, and make a full recovery. I pray every day about this woman!
May 21, 2009 at 9:20 p.m.
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I find it hard to believe this was random. The way she was beaten suggested to me a level of rage that only someone familiar to her would have had. Maybe she helped a wife or girl friend being beaten by a spouse or boyfriend (we know how nuts these people are). My money is on something like that.. People who help other people, not worrying about the violence coming back to them.. usually (unfortunately) have this happen to them. I just pray they catch this freak of nature before he hurts someone else (women of course. They don't pick on people they're own size because of that yellow streak down their back!)
May 21, 2009 at 9:10 p.m.
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JWHITE ~ humanity has flown the coop I think, don't you? That comment was about as brilliant as 'she was dressed too provocatively, therefore, she deserved to be raped.' NOWWHAT just sounds like an angry person who blames others for everything....let's pray for him/her. ;)
May 21, 2009 at 8:57 p.m.
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They have actually had a few 'suspects' nothing concrete yet. They did have some results come back today from the lab, so we will see. I have lived in the trailer park (12 years ago) and in Orfordville (5 years ago) Calling the trailer park Orfordville is not a big deal expecially considering if there is a danger in the trailer park then it would or could directly effect the citizens of Orfordville! nowwhat - "when you allow an area to get rundown this is what you get" Are you serious?!
May 21, 2009 at 5:32 p.m.
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I sure do hope that the person responible for this terrible crime is caught and locked up for life! Sandy is a great person and should not be fighting for her life! The swelling has finally come way down and she is looking like herself again! Please continue to keep Sandy in your thoughts and prayers! Lets hope Rock County can find the person that did this cause as of right now that persons running the streets and able to do this to someone else!
May 21, 2009 at 3:39 p.m.
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i think that they do have a poi (person of interest).. and if i heard right he's already in rock county on a p.o hold.. and when the evidence comes back hes screwed!
May 21, 2009 at 3:23 p.m.
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Oh for peats sake NOW WHAT>> the trailer park is within walking distance of downtown Orf. Why so nitpicky? People tend to know where Orf is, not the "Town of Plymouth".
May 21, 2009 at 11:08 a.m.
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How incredibly sad. I have been praying for this lady and will continue to do so. I have a feeling that somebody took advantage of her kindness.
May 21, 2009 at 10:47 a.m.
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By the way Gazette would it be asking to much to change the story from Orfordville to Town of Plymouth. After all that is where it is. You give us enough bad press without giving us some that is not ours.
May 21, 2009 at 10:45 a.m.
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Now that some attention has been given to the trailer court maybe the Town of Plymouth will do something to clean it up. I am sure there are nice and decent people living there. 20 years ago this was a beautiful trailer court. But the place has been allowed to deteriorate. The Orfordville - Footville are doesn't have a lot of crime. But when you allow an area such as this trailer court to get run down this is what you get. Wake up Town of Plymouth and do your job! I also hope the lady gets better and has a full recovery.
May 21, 2009 at 9:44 a.m.
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i hope they catch who done this to that lady, the isolating feeling of guilt should help bring out the suspect, hopefully soon
May 21, 2009 at 8:58 a.m.
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sannio, I agree with you entirely! I couldn't understand why the article was written in the past tense as if she has died. I found it a little insulting and I don't even know this woman. I can't imagine how family and friends would feel reading it.
May 21, 2009 at 7:35 a.m.
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This is so scary. This tradegy is the only downfall of living in the country. I just moved near the area to get away from the crime but I see it can happen anywhere. I just hope and pray this woman recovers. And for the attacker...he will get what is coming to him one day!!
May 20, 2009 at 7:43 p.m.
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I am not in law enforcement, nor and I into illegal activities. I feel bad that this woman has been done bad by another human being, or should I say an animal. It is not the fault of the economy for the attacker's actions. It is the attacker's own self that is the fault. Unfortunately, it is usually the good people that get the worst actions against them.
And dare I say the attacker beware as the consequences will be a nightmare! In the mean time, I pray that the attacker do the right thing in this situation. More importantly, I pray that Ms. Cole makes the best recovery! Keep up the fight for life!
May 20, 2009 at 7:25 p.m.
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Sandy is my aunt. It is just the way the writer wrote the article. Her kids do not and would not say 'was a mother of five' or 'was a single mother' or anything like that. Even with no change everyone is still holding on to hope. (Hannah) they only say random becuase they dont know what happened. No worries though everyone out there is on the lookout regardless of how many times they tell them not to worry, I dont think it will ever be the same again. It has always been a peaceful place, now after this I dont know what will happen. Keep Sandy and her children in your prayers!
May 20, 2009 at 5:45 p.m.
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Why is the article written in the past tense? If my Mom was in a coma I wouldn't say she was a mother of five children, I'd say she is a mother of five children. There's many other references like this. Maybe I'm misinterpreting it.
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