HOLLY SPRINGS, MS (abc24.com) - An 18-year-old in Marshall County was left to drown while his home burned to the ground, and now his own sister is charged in the crime.
Charles Hardeman was almost killed on April 11, tied to a concrete block and thrown in a lake to drown. His home was then set on fire and destroyed. Somehow he freed himself and drove for help, only to have a stroke and crash into a tree.
Hardeman was placed on life support at The MED, but made an eventual recovery and was released from the hospital on May 2.
Kevin Schrock and Gregory Jenkins were both arrested and charged with armed robbery, arson, aggravated assault and kidnapping. On May 18, Charles' sister, 19-year-old Ashley Hardeman, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault and kidnapping.
Just days after the attack, ABC 24 News spoke with Ashley Hardeman while her brother was fighting for his life at The MED. "Just keep praying and talking to God about it, because whoever did it to him, it’s like a smack in their face," Ashley said. "Because he’s still fighting, he’s still here. And he’s still standing strong."
Ashley Hardeman's arrest led to the release of Kevin Schrock, who had been behind bars for three weeks for the attack on Charles. Schrock’s bond was reduced from $1 million to $100,000 and he walked out of jail.
“We maintain he’s absolutely innocent,” said Schrock’s lawyer, Tony Farese. “We have physical evidence to corroborate exactly where Kevin was at the time of the crime.”
That evidence is surveillance video shot inside Schrock’s house, proving he was home at the time of the attack, says Farese. “Obviously somebody gave some bad information.”
