51-year-old West Virginia resident Wanda Palmer woke up after two years in a coma to testify against the gunman who nearly killed her in June 2020. It turned out to be her own brother. The victim accused 55-year-old Daniel Palmer of attacking her at her home near Cottageville, West Virginia. A statement released by the Jackson County Sheriff's Department said the man left his relative to die.
Officers found Wanda upright on a couch with serious injuries consistent with ax marks. Sheriff Ross Mellinger said deputies initially thought she was dead but then found a pulse and shallow breathing. One witness saw Daniel Palmer on his sister's porch around midnight the night before the woman was found critically injured. There were no other witnesses, phone records or CCTV footage in Palmer's case.
Police identified several suspects but were never able to charge them with anything. A few weeks ago, Mellinger's office received a call from Wanda's care facility saying she had regained consciousness and was ready to talk to authorities. Palmer could only answer questions with "yes" or "no", but provided the police with enough evidence to arrest her brother. On July 15, Daniel was detained and charged with attempted murder. His bail has been set at $500,000.
Currently, Wanda Palmer thinks clearly and speaks coherently, but is not yet able to conduct full conversations.
