Wife of man left on ventilator after beating at Roswell park says she thinks attack was random

ROSWELL, Ga. — More than a week after an attack at a city park, a Roswell man is still in the hospital — still too injured to talk to detectives.

Matt Donald was found lying in a pool of blood.

Channel 2′s Steve Gehlbach broke the story and was in the park where the attack happened earlier this month.

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In a new Facebook post, wife Lexi Donald said her husband had just put their 7-month-old son to sleep when he went for a walk on the night of Sept 13 at Roswell Area Park — just a half mile from their home. On his way back, he was attacked, beaten, and almost killed.

“Matt is one of the most upbeat, friendliest people on this planet,” Lexi Donald said in the post. “He’s not confrontational in any way and he is very aware of his surroundings.”

“Looks like he was hit with rocks, and lots of rocks in this area,” Dean Donald, Matt’s father said.

Channel 2 Action News spoke with Dean Donald right after the attack, who guessed his son may have been targeted because of his new red Nikes.

“But strange — when they found him the shoes were off him and placed neatly beside him. and didn’t take his ID, didn’t take his cell phone,” Dean Donald said.

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Lexi Donald’s post also suggests just random violence for no reason

“The severity of his injuries makes it seem like this was a sneak attack by more than one person,” she wrote. “And the fact that nothing was stolen, makes it feel like they beat him to an inch of his life just because they felt like it.”

Gelbach checked back with Roswell police again on Wednesday. They say they’re following up on leads, but have nothing else to release to the public or possible descriptions.

Detectives have been to the hospital but have yet to interview Matt Donald because of his injuries.

The family has set up a GoFundMe for Matt Donald. Anything raised above his medical costs will go to fund more security in the parks.

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