Josie Merkle was beaten by a man in January. Prosecutors have named Brian Golsby as a suspect in her case. Golsby was indicted in the murder of OSU student Reagan Tokes Friday.
On January 23, Merkle says she was getting ready to leave her home in German Village when a man approached her at her garage.
“I knew he was out for harm. It was just an evil darkness to his eyes,” said Merkle.
Merkle said her attacker had his face covered only showing his eyes.
Pictures from a 10TV interview with Merkle back in January show her right eye badly bruised.
At the time, Merkle did not have an identification on the man who beat her. However, she said she sensed that he had hurt others before.
“Yes, I don't know why,” said Merkle. “But it was um, just enormous anger, just evil. He just came in and starting beating me. Not to get a purse, I had rings on but none of that.”
On Friday, prosecutors said that suspect may have been Brian Golsby. Golsby was also indicted for the rape and murder of Reagan Tokes and the assault/robbery of a handful of other victims.
According to police documentation, all of those attacks occurred after Merkle’s attack.
“If they could have just gotten him,” said Merkle. “I went on the news. I told the police. Could I have done something?”
Now, Merkle questions if there needs to be more oversight for suspects on parole like Golsby.
“Yes, it’s hard to imagine that there isn't,” Merkle said. “Or what's the point of wearing a GPS?”
Merkle’s case was not included in Friday’s indictment against Golsby because her attack would be charged as a misdemeanor. It did not rise to the standard of a felony like the other cases.