RUPERT, WV (LOOTPRESS) – An 87 year old woman was left in serious condition following a Tuesday afternoon assault in Greenbrier County.
Reports indicated that Cpl J.W. Gilkeson was dispatched at 4:58pm by Greenbrier County 911 to Zopp Road for a reported assault.
Upon arrival at the residence, the officer spoke with the victim, Lillian Crane. Reports indicate severe bruising on the face of the victim, including the nose and left eye, as well as active bleeding from the face and arm.
Crane informed the officer that, as she was driving to her Zopp Road residence, she noticed several people standing near the road, as well as a car door open on the edge of the road, which caused her to swerve slightly to avoid a collision.
She noticed a small dog but did not see it move toward her and did not recall hitting anything.
Crane said she was approached by two males and one female upon returning to her residence, and that the female had a number of rocks in her hand – one of which was thrown and struck Crane’s vehicle. The officer noted that damage on the driver side of the vehicle was consistent with Ms. Crane’s recollection of events.
Crane said that the female then threw another rock which she believes to have hit her head before the two males grabbed her and threw her to the ground, at which point she remembers being struck repeatedly but was not sure by whom as everything was happening so quickly.
En route to the scene, the officer had contacted Travis Highlander in an attempt to gain more information. Highlander stated that someone in a blue Dodge Dakota struck and killed his mother’s dog, but had not other information.
TFC B.J. Borsman went to 202 Zopp Road residence and made contact with Tanya Johnson, James Highlander, and Travis Highlander, who stated the woman ran over their mother’s dog and that they went to confront her at her residence.
The subjects claimed that they never hit Crane, and that Crane had lunged at Tanya, pulling her to the ground.
After Ms. Crane was transported by EMS to Greenbrier Valley Medical Center, her family later contacted the officer and informed them that Ms. Crane was in serious condition with several broken bones, as well as a brain bleed, and was being transported to CAMC for treatment.
On Wednesday, August 31, 2022, at approximately 4:36pm, Officer Gilkeson was dispatched to the residence at 202 Zopp Road to address reports of shots fired.
The officer had arrangements to speak with the parties involved in the previous incident at the same residence.
The caller, Heather Collins, stated that she had gone to the residence to confront the suspects about someone being on her property, and that one of the male subjects had fired one shot as she was leaving.
At approximately 6:00pm, officers with the Greenbrier County Sheriff’s office in reference to a search warrant regarding unrelated matters.
At approximately 8:50pm, authorities obtained a statement from Travis Highlander, who stated that he was inside his residence when his brother James came inside and said that “the old bitch” had hit their mothers dog and killed it.
Highlander stated that he followed as Tanya and James were walking toward the woman’s residence, but that he was unable to keep pace with them.
He stated that Tanya threw a rock at the women’s vehicle and that the woman jumped out and lunged at Tanya. Furthermore, he stated that Tanya and the woman then went to the ground, and that he wasn’t sure if Tanya hit her but that he pulled her off the woman and they left.
At approximately 9:35pm Officer Gilkeson obtained a statement from Tanya Johnson, who stated that she had been inside her residence when her brother James came running in claiming that “the old woman” had run over their mother’s dog and killed it.
Johnson stated that her mother was very upset and was holding the deceased dog, prompting herself and Travis to go to the woman’s residence.
She stated that she threw a rock at the woman’s vehicle, after which she claims the woman, Ms. Crane, exited the vehicle, grabbed her shirt, and that a struggle ensued before the woman fell to the ground on her backside.
Johnson says that she turned to leave but heard her brothers yelling at the woman, and indicates she saw James Highlander grabbing the woman by the face and slamming her face on the ground. She says they left when the subject said she was calling 911.
Johnson says that James advised herself and Travis to stick with the story that they approached the woman but did not hit her and that she had simply fallen.
At approximately 10:05pm, Officer Gilkeson obtained a written statement from James “Jaime” Highlander, stating that he was inside his residence and was told that someone swerved and hit their dog on purpose, killing it.
James stated that he told his siblings that the dog had been hit intentionally, and that all three then went to find the person responsible.
Highlander says he was not sure whether one person or multiple people had been involved, so they all went along for the confrontation.
He continued, stating that upon arrival, they asked the woman why she had killed their dog, at which point he claims she lunged at his sister but fell to the ground on her backside.
He claims they were 5 to 10 feet away from the woman and told her to be more careful before leaving.
When asked how the woman received her injuries, he said he did not known but did not see anyone hit her.
Reports emphasize the seriousness of Ms. Crane’s injuries, as well as the fact that she is 87 years old by comparison to the suspects, who were 34, 37, and 39, respectively.
Also emphasized was the fact that the subjects intentionally assembled and traveled 300 hundred yards on foot to confront Crane.
James Highlander, 37 of Rupert, faces charges of Malicious Assault and Conspiracy.
