Lewes man charged with assault
A Lewes man faces an assault charge after telling police that he may have killed his grandmother in an area hotel.
Delaware State Police responded at 5:45 p.m., Jan. 29, to the Hyatt House near Lewes, and found Dempsey Fritchey, 30, near the lobby, who told police that he may have killed his grandmother, police said.
Fritchey was detained without incident, police said, and troopers went to a hotel room and found a woman, 72, unconscious with injuries to her face and head. The woman was taken to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries, police said.
Delaware State Police Troop 4 Criminal Investigations Unit assumed the investigation, police said, and detectives learned that while staying together in the hotel room, Fritchey, for unknown reasons, suddenly assaulted his grandmother with his hands and feet, and afterwards went to the lobby and told hotel staff about the incident.
Fritchey was arrested and taken to Troop 7, where he was charged with first-degree assault. He was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 11, and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution in default of $300,000 cash bond.
The Delaware State Police Troop 4 Criminal Investigations Unit continues to investigate this incident and ask anyone who has any information about the incident to contact Det. D. Hickman at 302-752-3856; send a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police; or contact Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.
