DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – A 911 call released Wednesday shows that the victim in an attack outside a bar in Daytona Beach was unconscious for at least 20 minutes before authorities arrived.
A bystander who witnessed the man get punched at least once before hitting the ground stayed with the victim to see if he would regain consciousness. After 20 minutes, he called 911.
"He's breathing. He's kind of, like, snoring but he's not waking up," the man said.
The operator expresses concern even after the caller insists that the 22-year-old victim is still breathing.
"No, no vomiting or anything. He's just out cold," the man said.
Daytona Beach police said that surveillance video showed a man approaching the victim on Jan. 26 around 3 a.m. and punching him in the face before leaving the area.
Authorities said the assailant was wearing blue jeans, a red jacket and a red hat the night of the attack. He left the scene in a dark-colored car.
As a result of the attack, the victim suffers from permanent memory loss, diminished mental capacity and physical problems, according to a news release.
The 22-year-old victim's mother Deanne Tibado said her son was blinded as a results of the attack. His new impaired condition has changed the family's life forever.
"It's like '50 First Dates.' Every time you leave the room and come back in, he's happy to see you because he doesn't realize that he just saw you," she said. "All he does is just sit around the house and want to know how old he is, what year it is and if he's ever going to see."
Daytona Beach Det. Dave Dinardi said without any successful leads they need the public's help to solve this crime.
"At this point, it's been two months, I'll take any information that anyone is willing to give," Dinardi said.
The victim's mother said the person who did this needs to turn himself in.
"If he's out there, he needs to step up and be a man, and take care of his responsibilities to what he's done to my kid," Tibado said.
Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call the Daytona Beach Police Department at 386-671-5101 and reference case number 20190001652.