Winston Rulo was the victim of a hate crime. He was savagely beaten by a man, because of his sexuality. Winston is a 22 yr old CNA that is attending school at Lewis and CLark Community College toward a degree in nursing. He is kind ,compassionate and generous to know this young man is to know a true friend.

On July 19th, a neighbor in his apartment complex savagely beat him nearly to death after calling homophobic slurs.

This document was posted by the Bethalto department. They listed the injuries along with the victims name. I’m not sure how that’s not a HIPPA violation. I’m sure there’s some legality to where they could.

Beyond that however, the injuries listed are accurate but not complete. There are several more fractures and injuries, including a brain bleed as well as having the tip of his finger nearly bitten off.

As a government office if you are going to post information should it not be accurate.

I know they were very aware of the critical injuries the victim suffered. He had to be flown to St.louis where he remains at this time.

Those injuries which are life threatening should have been included in the court documents. Charges should be filed with accurate documentation.

The charge and injuries read like a Bar fight.

This was a brutal attack where the victim was savagely beaten and had he not managed to escape would have been beaten to death.

This was an attempted murder. The assailant didn’t stop, he didn’t release the victim. He continued his attack. He would have killed him!

The victim was an openly gay man, that was merely trying to evacuate his apartment after being alerted by his landlord that there was a fire and he needed to get out to safety.

The assailant waited for the victim to come down the stairs called him a “ cross-dressing FA***T” and began his attack.

How was this not charged as a hate crime and attempted murder???

This young man has multiple head lacerations that needed to be stapled. Eye laceration that required a so many sutures, his right index finger tip was crushed from being bitten, the nail had to be removed to suture the nail plate. All of these were done after being flown to St.Louis while the victim was awake. Lidocaine was used to attempt to numb the areas. However swollen ravaged tissue doesn’t numb well.

I held his uninjured hand as he lay there covered in blood neck brace in place ,my forehead pressed to his tears streaming down both our faces trying to comfort him between his screams as his face continued to swell.

This was completed over multiple hours as they had to keep taking him in and out of CT scans to insure the brain bleed was remaining stable.

Ct scans of his body to locate all the injuries. His hands bruised from trying to protect himself from the beating. His feet bloodied from the glass cutting into his feet as he tried to get to safety as the assailant continued to beat him.

That was just the first 5 hours, then being placed in the icu where they proceeded to try and clean his head and found another 3 inch laceration at the top of his scalp. Totally 7 different lacerations Where he then had to go through more stapling. More agonizing pain.

Once that was completed he then threw up copious amounts of blood.

I have watched this young man go through the most agonizing physical pain , endure surgeries where titanium plates and screws had to be implanted into his face to repair the damage caused by this brutal attack. Nasal tubes sutured into place to help realign multiple fractures and deviated septum.

The emotional and mental pain and scars that will remain with him along side the physical scars that will be a reminder every time he looks in the mirror.

He still can’t stand and walk 10 feet without being so nauseated that he needs to sit.

His vision is not restored.

He won’t be able to return to the life he knew, physically or mentally .

He still fighting for the new life he has come to know. He’s still left trying to make sense of it all. He has to leave his life he knew, return home to his parents house once he is released from the hospital to recover. He will need therapy physical and mental.

His independence is gone, his feeling of safety, his life is forever changed. The reason I know all of this is because this young man is my son, Winston Rulo

The man that tried to kill my son, for no reason other than hate. Should be charged with the crimes he committed.

This man has forever changed the lives of my family. I have no doubt that he will offend again if given the opportunity.

Forgive the multiple spelling errors and grammatical errors that are most definitely present in this post.

I have had little sleep over these past days, however when this post was sent to me. I felt as though with Winston’s permission I needed to be a voice and advocate for the truth as to what happened.

I respect and appreciate the police department in my village of Bethalto. Detective Duggar came to the hospital to collect Winston’s statement. He was kind and respectful. I truly appreciate him as does Winston.

I hope those reading this statement take it in the way it was intended, as the truth from one heart broken Mom

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SHARE, TRUTH SHOULD BE SHARED