Grandfather says woman's sob story led up to attack in hotel room

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — A grandfather says two men beat him up in his hotel room and stole his money.

He believes a woman he tried to help set him up.

The robbery happened inside one of the rooms at the Economy Hotel along Northwest Parkway in Marietta.

The grandfather, Darrell Tate, told Channel 2 Cobb County Bureau Chief Chris Jose that he's in fear for his life.

When Jose asked a manager about safety on the property, she told him safety isn’t guaranteed anywhere and the victim won’t get his money back.

“They’re saying, just take another room. Take another room? Then my life might be taken. No, ma’am. I just want a refund or something,” Tate said.

Tate said he checked into the hotel less than a week ago and paid for the whole month, never thinking he’d end up in the hospital.

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Darrell said a woman came to him for help, claiming she was cold and hungry.

While he made her some food, two other men knocked on his door.

“Bam! Bam! Bam! I said: ‘Hey! Is someone here for you?’ She said: ‘No, no. No one’s here for me,’” Tate said.

Tate believes the woman helped orchestrate a robbery in his room. He said the men pushed their way in.

“They had a handgun. I was hit a couple of times. I was knocked to the floor. They pointed the gun at me. They told me, ‘Don’t get up,’” Tate said.

He said the two men punched him and threatened to pull the trigger if he didn’t give them money.

The 60-year-old grandfather told Jose that he didn’t think he would survive the ambush Tuesday.

“I was waiting on the sound of the gun,” Tate said.

Police confirmed they’re investigating and searching for the robbery crew.

Jose walked into the hotel lobby Wednesday, and a manager told him she offered the victim a new room but not a refund.

Tate is warning other guests to be on the lookout.

“'I need to get in. I’m cold. I’m hungry.’ And it’s all trick. It’s all game. Once you let them in, you’ll be robbed, maybe even killed,” Tate said.

Police are in the process of getting surveillance video from the hotel.

The robbers got away with $100 in cash.

Cox Media Group