Nearly a month after a vicious assault on an elderly woman, a traumatized Norway family just wants to begin the healing process.

“We would like to be citizens again and handling our own business and personal life,” Norway businessman John A. Fogle said Friday.

Fogle said the arrest of three men in connection with the Aug. 29 home invasion and assault on his wife will begin the healing. The suspects appeared in court Friday.

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Fogle’s wife, Margaret, 82, was attacked as she slept in the couple’s Cavalry Church Road home.

Her attackers struck her repeatedly with the butt and barrel of a shotgun.

“They was going to rob us, alright,” Fogle said. “I think that was the main thing, they was going to rob us.”

Stephenio Demont Gilmore, 24, and Wendel Brimfield, 18, both of 125 Hunter St., Norway, have been charged with assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature and first-degree burglary.

Risheen Pender, 30, of 301 Hutto Road, Neeses, was charged with first-degree burglary.

First-degree burglary can carry up to life in prison without parole if the men are convicted.

Investigators are looking into the possibility yet another suspect was involved in the attack, Orangeburg County Sheriff Williams said.

“We’re not sure just yet where we’re going with him,” the sheriff said. “We might have a fourth individual, we’re not sure at this point.”

Williams said of the three who faced a judge Friday, “I don’t have a crystal ball. But I feel we have the right ones.”

The sheriff said investigators were led to the trio by checking the streets.

“After speaking with many, many, many informants, we were able to identify one of the individuals, Mr. Pender,” he said. “From that point, there was more investigation.”

Calling it a “tragedy,” Williams expressed regret that a “Golden Age” couple in Orangeburg County was robbed of their sense of security.

“The last thing they should be worrying about is being assaulted at home in their bed,” Williams said.

During Friday’s hearing, Orangeburg County Magistrate Betty Bates-Gray presented the three standing before the bench with their rights, but said a circuit court judge will have to make a determination on bond.

Pender questioned his arrest, saying he wasn’t at the Fogle residence last month.

“I’m charged with burglary, first,” he said. “I haven’t even been there, how can I be charged with burglary?”

“I can’t go into how you’re charged with burglary first, I’m not here to try you,” Bates-Gray said. “I’m here to give you your rights.”

Around 12:10 a.m. Aug. 30, two men dressed in black and wearing ski masks broke into the Fogle’s home while John Fogle slept on a recliner, according to an Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office incident report.

Fogle was awakened by his wife, Margaret, who was screaming, “They’re trying to kill me,” the report said.

The 82-year-old Margaret Fogle had been struck multiple times with a shotgun. She suffered a broken arm and needed at least 10 stitches to close her injuries.

Williams labeled the motive for the home invasion as “retaliatory aggression,” but declined to give details.

However, John Fogle alluded to his recent stand against the wave of copper thefts. Fogle said he thinks the attack could be connected with the $5,000 reward he offered for information about thefts at his Savannah Highway business.

Williams said investigators have located a shotgun they believe was used to assault Margaret Fogle.

The weapon was found in “a stash location” connected to one of the subjects, Williams said.

T&D Staff Writer Richard Walker can be reached by e-mail at rwalker@timesanddemocrat.com or by telephone at 803-533-5516.

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