HOUSTON – A robbery victim remained in coma Monday while the person suspected in the crime was free on bond.
Police said John Vincent Thomas and John Flores met in a convenience store and surveillance cameras recorded their encounter in October.
“And during the incident the victim was knocked to the ground, and sustained a serious head wound,” said Sgt. Tony Guzman.
Three months later Thomas was in court and Flores was in bed in a coma.
“We sometimes feel in our heart he can recognize us when he looks in our eyes,” said the victim’s daughter Gloria.
Family members work in shifts to take care of Flores. Doctors believe, unless there is a miracle, he will never wake up.
If Thomas is found guilty, he could face more prison time than most convicted robbers, even though the added time could be for something he likely did not intend to do.
Regardless of intent, Texas has a special felony law on the books for scenarios like this, allowing prosecutors to upgrade crimes like robbery, burglary, and sexual assaults to a special status.
Thomas has been charged with felony robbery and causing serious bodily injury, but he said he is innocent.
“It wasn’t an accident. Thomas doesn’t care for human life,” Gloria said.
She didn’t want to show her face because Thomas is out on bond and walking free until his trial.
