Son claims mother hit herself

BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

INEZ — An Inez woman says her son brutally attacked her, leaving her with a concussion and broken nose, but did not get arrested after he told police his mother inflicted injuries on herself to frame him.

Martin County Sheriff’s deputies say the incident happened Monday at the home of the mother, Tina Smith, on Saltwell Road in Inez.

When Deputy Billy Patrick arrived, Smith’s son, 36-year-old Steven Landis of Inez, had fled the scene.

Deputy Braxton McGinnis located Landis and his two young children at the mouth of the hollow.

“[The children] started crying, saying their grandmother hit herself and was trying to get the male subject in trouble,” McGinnis reported.

“Deputy Patrick spoke with the assistant county attorney, who said just to cite the male subject and give a court date.”

Patrick says the children, who appeared to be 4-6 years old, told him the same story in separate interviews.

“They said, ‘My grandma hit herself and said she was going to send our dad to jail,’” Patrick said. “McGinnis talked to the son, who had the same story.”

Acting on the assistant Martin County Attorney’s advice, McGinnis issued a citation charging Landis with fourth-degree assault (minor injury).

A relative, Odessa Booth, transported the 56-year-old Smith to a local emergency room. Booth also posted photos on Facebook depicting bruising and swelling around Smith’s eye and a bloody puncture wound on her scalp.

“He hit her over 20 times,” Booth told the Mountain Citizen. “It’s so sad when a child beats his own mother.” 

Smith was at the courthouse Tuesday getting an emergency protective order.

“My son beat me up, and they gave him a ticket for fourth-degree assault,” Smith told the Mountain Citizen. “He put a hole in my head, gave me a concussion, broke my nose, and they’re not going to do anything. I have to go to court.”

Landis had been living with his mother.

“I was taking care of him because he was homeless,” said Smith.

“He’s bipolar and doesn’t take his medicine. So he flips out, and I was at the end of that flip-out this time.”

Patrick says he called the county attorney’s office due to the children’s statements.

“I’m not always going to make the right decision, but I do the best I can,” said Patrick. “I thought that was the right decision based on what the kids said.”

Landis will appear in court Aug. 9.