The family of a woman assaulted in Florence spoke with WAAY 31 News.
The family of an elderly Florence women sodomized and burglarized spoke out for the first time.
Michael Kirkland, 34, is facing several sex crime charges on two separate cases involving two elderly women and a child under the age of 12.
Kirkland was supposed to make an appearance at the Lauderdale County Courthouse Friday morning for an Aniah's Law hearing regarding the child sex crimes case. The hearing was ultimately continued after Kirkland caused a disturbance at the Lauderdale County Detention Center.
The family of the 79-year-old sexual assault victim says this is the most disturbing thing they’ve ever been through.
“I can’t fathom how anybody could be that sick,” the victim's granddaughter said.
“I don’t know how anyone could be that deranged and think that this is okay to do to anyone at all,” her granddaughter continued. “I don’t care what age but especially a child or an elderly person, our most vulnerable.”
Authorities say Kirkland came to the 79-year-old’s home on Howell Street on June 22 to ask for water when he attacked her, tied her up, and assaulted her.
When the woman's 76-year-old neighbor came to check on her, authorities say Kirkland assaulted her as well.
“She was just being a kind woman and this is what she got,” her granddaughter said. “Neither of them in no way deserved what happened.”
Had the woman's neighbor not come to check on her, things could’ve ended differently for the victims.
“I don’t know what would’ve happened if she didn’t come,” her granddaughter said. “I’m so sad that this abuse happened to her as well.”
The family says their loved one has been to three different rehab facilities since the assault. Her family doesn’t know if she’ll ever be able to return home.
“We just don’t know when she’s done there what’s going to happen next,” her daughter-in-law said. “We do know she can’t live in that house anymore.”
“All of those memories that we made at that place as a family, they feel tainted and I absolutely hate that,” her granddaughter said.
The 79-year-old's family hopes the person responsible for their families' pain gets punished for their crimes.
“It’s just killed us all but we’re going to be strong, and we’re going to get through this,” her daughter-in-law said. “We’re going to see justice, I know we are.”
Kirkland will remain in the Lauderdale County Jail until his next court appearance. His arraignment is currently set for October 3.
Stay with WAAY 31 news for more information in this developing story.
