MERCER COUNTY -- An arrest has been made in the brutal beating of 83-year-old Fred Rooth during a home invasion in May of this year.
Brian K. Tully, 55, of Burlington, has been charged with a home invasion, residential burglary, and aggravated battery.
The arrest of Tully was a sigh of relief for Rooth's family.
"I'm just thankful for Dave Staley and the other officers that have done this because they worked really hard on this," said Jeff Dearinger, Rooth's son-in-law.
Rooth was badly beaten, he suffered a traumatic brain injury and since the attack has had several surgeries on his face.
"He's doing better, he still has some memory lapses, he still has some things he can`t remember," said Dearinger.
In the days after the attack, friends of Fred donated $100 a piece to contribute to a reward, hoping the day they'd find who attacked him would come.
"Everybody`s been great, we couldn't expect anymore and the amount of the reward that was put up, we can't expect anymore than that, it was absolutely stupendous," said Dearinger.
The reward money got up to around $24,000, that money will remain in the fund as the investigation continues.
Tully is currently being held on a $200,000 bond.
Tully also faces charges in both Warren and Henderson Counties.
He will be formally arraigned in Mercer County Circuit Court.