How did that happen to your arm? >> I think it was a hammer. >> You have no idea who Yeah, that's the biggest concern is that she's going to kill him. I don't want to take her to jail. >> Come on, Miss Collins. >> Come on. Come on. You want to just go >> When an 83-year-old man calls 911 saying his wife hit him in the head with a hammer, deputies rush to a home in Santa Rosa County expecting a violent domestic attack. But when they arrive, his 79-year-old wife isn't acting like a criminal. Terrified and confused, she keeps insisting that there's an intruder inside the house. >> Okay. How did that happen? >> He did it on me. And you know what? I picked up something and hit him with something. >> Okay. >> And I I I meant to It was him. >> What unfolds next forces deputies into one of the most heartbreaking decisions of THEIR CAREERS. >> [screaming] >> OKAY. ON THE MORNING OF JUNE 2ND, 2025, deputies in Santa Rosa County responded to another emergency call from the home of George Collins and his wife, Diane Collins. This time, George told dispatchers his wife had struck him in the head with a hammer. When deputies arrived at the house, they immediately noticed blood on the floor and walls. George was injured but still conscious, trying to calmly explain what had happened. Diane, meanwhile, appeared frightened, emotional, and completely disoriented. >> Well, this is what he done to me. >> Okay. How did that happen? >> He did it on me. And you know what? I picked up something and hit him with something. >> Okay. >> And I I I meant to It was him. >> Okay. >> way. >> All right. >> But I hit him now. >> You can go ahead and come on. >> Don't don't I'm not saying that I didn't hit him. >> Okay. >> But that's what he started. >> Normal's fine for now. >> Ever. right. Diane, can you stand right here for me? Sarah, can you stay right here? Let me go check on George real quick, okay? You know that's George, right, that you hit? Okay. Don't go nowhere. >> The deputies already recognized the couple from numerous previous calls to the home, many involving Diane's worsening dementia and violent confusion. Diane kept insisting that a stranger or intruder was somewhere inside the house, seemingly unable to understand that the man she had attacked was actually her own husband. >> So, Diane, what happened? >> Something he does, awfully does, trying to make me just as mad, >> Yeah. >> and I'm not, but he just reached out and just >> Yeah, how did that happen to your arm? >> I thought it was a hammer or something like that. >> Yeah. >> I didn't know he had something like that, and he's the meanest man I have ever seen. >> Well, I don't know. He's always been pretty nice to me. >> Yeah. >> You know that's George, right? >> George, my husband? >> Yeah, that's >> That's not him. >> Oh, that's George. >> No. >> Okay. >> I don't know who who he is. >> Okay. >> who he comes in here. >> Okay. >> And knowing that my mother my my my daddy is out right now. >> Okay. >> And he comes in with and I know what's going to happen. >> Okay. >> And I I try not to. I run. >> Okay. >> I don't want it that way. One time people looked at me, looked all this crazy, but I was putting the foot I was getting out of here. >> To the deputies, she appeared terrified, far more than aggressive, and was trapped in a reality that no longer made sense to her. >> Well, >> Well, he's in there talking to George right now, okay? >> All right. He's making it up. You can guarantee you that, cuz he ain't said nothing to me other than hold up something on on me. I run out two or three times trying to get away from him. >> Right. >> And you think I wasn't going to stand there and stand there and stay up here? >> George had suffered a laceration to his head, along with injuries to his elbow during the struggle, though he ultimately refused hospital transport. And as deputies began piecing together exactly what happened inside the home, they realized this wasn't the first time Diane's confusion had turned dangerous. Behind the violence was a heartbreaking reality that had been escalating for months. A husband slowly losing the woman he had spent more than 60 years married to. >> What's up? >> What's going on? >> So, he's got a spot top of the head. It's already dry, but and then he's got some stuff, some cuts. He said they're older, but they just started bleeding again. Yeah, and she's bleeding on her elbow. So, they're both going to need to be checked. He's to the left. >> Deputies who interacted with George noticed something important almost immediately. He didn't speak about Diane with anger. If anything, he sounded reluctant. >> Yeah. Something I told him something I said or did. I don't know what >> We don't hit each other. >> That never I didn't think she would mean it, but >> Well, what have I done? What have I done? >> Hit me in the head with a hammer. >> When was that? >> Long ago. >> You're lying. I ain't touched you with a anything. Except for you know what. >> [laughter] >> Oh, my my. >> Okay. >> Oh, man. >> This one. >> Yeah. my virgin ears. >> I asked her young son years ago when he first got married. We've been married 40 years. >> a rubber band on here every once in a while. >> How many? He hit his wife arrested. I said, "How did you get that done?" And they took her to for overnight. >> Yeah. >> I said, "How did you do that?" >> It happens. I said he was coming. >> And they still married and live together and they're paying time. >> Well, good. >> Now, you going to stay with me? >> Yes. But you'll quit hitting me. >> Is that hitting? >> Huh? >> Getting trying to get your shirt cleaned up. >> Well, I'll wash. I'll wash. >> All right. What do we do? We We've been married for how many years? 50 something? >> 61. >> Huh? >> That's a long time. >> 61. I ain't no use in hitting hitting him. >> Well. >> No. I've been I've been That's the bathroom. I ain't going to hurt him. >> Diane Collins, now 79, had been battling severe dementia, a disease that had slowly destroyed her memory, perception, and ability to recognize reality. According to family members and deputies, Diane would frequently mistake George for a stranger or intruder inside their own home. >> What kind of frying pan did you hit him with? A cast iron? You hit him with a big heavy one or a small one? >> I don't know what I did with it. >> You don't know what you did with it? Okay. >> I don't know. Whatever was laying in in the in the house. >> Okay. >> I don't know. No, I don't know whatever you call it. I don't even know what one is. Yeah. And nobody's to know nobody's to know They They just put me off down here. >> Some days she recognized him, other days she genuinely believed she was in danger. The couple had been married for more than 60 years, building an entire life and family together long before dementia entered the picture. But over time, their marriage had transformed from companionship into constant crisis management. Deputies had already responded to the Collins home around 11 times in just 11 months for similar incidents involving confusion, fear, and escalating aggression. Each visit painted the same heartbreaking picture with a husband trying to protect his wife while also trying to survive the illness consuming her mind. And with every new incident, the danger inside the home kept growing. The incident this time inside the Collins home began when Diane Collins once again became convinced that an intruder was somewhere inside the house. And in her mind, the threat was very [music] real. She appeared frightened and disoriented, struggling to separate reality from the confusion caused by her dementia. George Collins reportedly tried calming her down, reassuring her that nobody was inside the home. [music] But instead of settling the situation, Diane's panic only escalated. >> But I don't know. Whoever whatever you Whoever it is, I don't like him in here. I don't know who was he. >> I don't know. >> I don't know, but you apparently scared him off. >> Would they? I don't know what. Wasn't it wasn't you? Wasn't you hot or Nick name, was it? >> Oh, Nick. >> Yeah. >> No. >> Well, I didn't I wouldn't harm the hair. >> Yeah, I told you don't hit me. >> Why do what? >> Told you not to hit me. >> Well, a lot of tells me that. I didn't ever do it. I mean, I didn't ever get it, but Don't you like those over and over again? >> No, no she don't. >> Well, you did she don't see you very much though. When you leave all day long and we've been of course, working at different places and we all get together. >> Right. >> We get together we can We just ask you what you want us to to eat. I'm I'm barren. Daddy. I've always been. When I quit. So No, I all right. I'll keep my things back to myself and and That's if that's the big hoo-hoo. I have to street. >> See? >> Yeah. >> You see? >> Well, you can go have a seat. We're just We're just waiting on our lieutenant. We just kind of got We got to figure something out. >> Well, this show brother here is just about to kill >> Well, he knows how to Shouldn't be swinging hammers. >> I'm going to be slapping him in the mouth if he don't hush. No, I don't do that. Well, I'm hurt hurting her all the way through. I can sit down. >> Okay. That's the reason I don't like sitting in the chair like this. I'm turning. And the other back there too, look. >> You lying. He's telling a story. He just wants mad so he can get up some more People are laughing. I got to go. >> No, I'm not taking you to jail. Did you want to go? >> No. >> No, okay. Does she got to go? >> No. >> You want to take me either? >> He asked me. He asked me. >> Did you want to go? >> I told him one time, take her or take me. One of them. Just walk off and go to the car. >> I'm sorry, but you leave Ali. You thought of that? >> Huh? >> Hello. You leave Ali. >> At some point during the confrontation, Diane grabbed a pair of scissors. George managed to take them away from her before anyone was seriously hurt. And for a brief moment, it seemed like the situation might calm down. But moments later, Diane reportedly armed herself again, this time with a hammer. Investigators say she struck George in the head, leaving him with a bleeding laceration and injuries to his arm and elbow during the struggle. Blood visible throughout the house confirmed just how chaotic the confrontation had become. The responding officers tried to remain calm throughout the encounter, carefully balancing compassion with safety. They understood almost immediately that Diane wasn't fully aware of what she had done. >> And go to jail. >> think they're going to take her or him. He doesn't want to >> About it. >> So he needs to really use the most of that. >> That's what >> He was saying. >> He was He needs to go to the hospital. >> No. >> Yeah. >> So he said he's going to try to call him. But he's looking at something. >> He called 911. >> Yeah, cuz I >> But he said he'd call him in a minute and talk to him. >> Okay. Honestly, I think she might need to be Baker Acted if she grabbed a pair of scissors the first time, cuz she's not recognizing him. That's why >> Why would she grab it? >> Okay. >> He said she grabbed it and then was like, "Get out of this house." >> Get out of your way. >> It's like I know it's happened a lot, but it's to the point now hammers and hammers and scissors will kill you. Yeah. Good luck, guys. >> Oh, thanks. >> All right, hold on. We're going to We're going to hang out for a minute, George. We're We're trying to figure out what we're going to do, okay? Last thing we want to do is >> She Stay away from me. Who's scared of me? >> Yeah, there we go. >> I said scared of her. That that man did >> Yeah, right. >> hit >> Oh, see she thinks the man that hit her is gone. >> So is that >> Even while deputies questioned her, she appeared confused about the incident itself and repeatedly returned to the belief that an intruder had been inside the house. And for the deputies standing inside that home, the next decision would become almost impossible. As they continued speaking with the family, the reality of the situation became painfully clear. The officers understood that Diane Collins was suffering from severe dementia and likely didn't fully understand what had happened. None of them wanted the situation to turn into a traditional criminal arrest involving a confused 79-year-old woman. But they also couldn't ignore the fact that George Collins was no longer safe inside his own home. But this also wasn't an isolated incident. Deputies had already responded to the residence numerous times over the previous year for similar [music] episodes involving confusion, fear, and aggression. >> He asked me about four times, "Is she okay? Is she okay?" >> He said she's okay. >> He kept telling me he's okay, but I can't get to him. >> had a really good >> Um what's the word? What do you call it? >> shiner >> Not shiner. Shiner's for eyes. Um I don't know. Lump on his head. You know what I mean? >> goose egg >> Goose egg is exactly what he said. Yeah. And there's a lot of blood. >> Was it? >> I mean, she got He got cracked right here with a hammer. >> And he's in the photo or >> Yeah, there was a lot of blood. And then his elbow was Her elbow was jacked up. So she Like I said, she came at him with a pair of scissors. He managed to get them away. She goes to the garage, comes back. So he's trying to keep her away, and only thing he has is his walker. So he's got two hands, and then she grabs it with one hand, and then with the He's like, "I thought I got putting all the hammers away." He's like, "I already put the small hammer up." Like he tries to put all these things away, but like it's a kitchen full of knives. She's She could wake up at 2:00 a.m. and be like, "I have no idea who Yeah, that's the biggest concern is that she's going to kill him. I don't want to take her to jail. And if we took her to a hospital, it is a medical issue, he's right. They're just going to discharge her. Dementia patient, yeah. And you would have to go pick her up, bring her right back here, she'd flip her lid again, and >> probably do something court-ordered wise to >> That's That's what this is going to get her put in front of a judge. He's going to read the charging document that mentions that and we've been out here on 11 separate occasions in the last year, less than a year, July, in the last 10 months, we've been out here on 11 separate occasions for this type of issue. She often >> I also saw the address and I was like, yep. I also saw the address and I recognized it. >> and now the violence had escalated to the use of a deadly weapon. George himself appeared emotionally devastated as he admitted that he could no longer safely live with Diane alone. After more than 60 years together, he was being forced to confront a reality he had spent months trying to avoid. Their son also arrived visibly distressed by his mother's condition. He spoke with deputies about memory care options and acknowledged that the family could no longer manage the situation on their own. >> I said He said, "What do I do? I can't stay with her." And I Nobody can stay with her like if she attacks him. >> Yeah. >> Like I got a son. I can't have her with I want to get my brothers in Georgia. I What are the options? >> Jail or this. >> What am I Yeah, I can't >> So, while he's on the phone, I'm just going to give you some some of the resources that we're going to provide you guys. So, this is Al Peters. Yeah. They've got two phone numbers here. Um they'll do like a telephonic um assessment and then get back with you in 3 days and try and work with you guys on like setting up in-home care or whether it is placement or something like that. But these are the phone numbers. This is Uh we call her She works for us. She's kind of like our special needs coordinator. She does a lot of stuff with whether it's elderly or whether it's your autistic population and stuff like that. And this is her business phone number as well. Okay, on the front of that that's that's me. That's our dispatch if you need it or non-emergency line and this is the case number. So if you call in and you got any questions regarding this incident, that's the case number that you're going to need, okay? Um I'm going to go ahead and give that to you. Um we still got to figure out what direction we're going cuz >> So >> I mean I'd hate I'd hate to take her to jail. >> I mean what do we do? >> That's it. >> She has no idea that she was mad at me like I'm telling that talking bad about his options and she's like get the So hard hearing your mom say that. But I'm kind of past that now. So I'm like >> Yeah. >> What would Dad what do you want to do? And she'll call. I'll stay here with you tonight. Whatever you want to do. And he goes, "Trent, I can't do anything with her. What do I do with her?" >> That's right. And I was out here talking to him. He never would say that to me. But I believe it, you know, from me talking to him and even Yeah. Yeah. >> But he just not like that. I hate to take her to jail. She don't know where she is. >> No. I agree. Trent, if you can keep them separated or at least for a little while, okay? And and try to make those those calls to these numbers, okay? It's not going to be it it's not going to be tonight. >> The deputies weren't just responding to a crime scene. They were witnessing a family collapse under the weight of dementia. And eventually, they concluded there was no way to leave Diane in the house without risking someone's life. When deputies finally informed Diane Collins that she was going to be arrested, her reaction was immediate confusion. She appeared unable to fully process what the officers were telling her, repeatedly questioning what was happening and why everyone was treating the situation so seriously. >> COME ON, MRS. COLLINS. COME COME ON. You want to JUST GO FOR LET'S GO FOR A RIDE IN THE >> NO! >> [screaming] >> COME ON. COME ON. >> NO! NO! [screaming] NO! >> COME ON. MS. COLLINS, COME ON. DON'T >> GOD, DON'T LET HIM. >> [screaming] >> GOD! I DIDN'T DO IT. >> COME ON. YOU CAN HOLD ON TO THOSE IF YOU WANT. >> ARE YOU CUTTING MY LEG OFF? >> [screaming] >> I CUT YOUR LEG OFF. COME ON. >> NO! >> LET'S GO TALK TO SOMEBODY. Somebody else who can HELP YOU. >> QUIT! QUIT TRYING TO BREAK MY CAR. QUIT, CARL. I CAN'T STAND IT. CARL, I DIDN'T DO IT. I DIDN'T DO IT FOR YOU. >> WE'RE GOING to talk to somebody. Got it? I did. Okay. All right. Have a seat for us, Ms. Collins. Okay? >> No. >> Have a seat. >> Have a seat in the car. >> Yep. Have a seat. >> I can't run on them them them them them seats. I can't sit down on that. >> As reality slowly began setting in, Diane's confusion turned [music] into fear and emotional panic. One moment she seemed calm and the next she was denying parts of the incident or returning again to the belief that someone dangerous had been inside the home. Deputies could see that her mind was constantly shifting between different versions of reality. >> sit down on that. >> You'll have to. You're going to have to. Come on. Have a seat. Just move that out of the way. There you go. Just have a seat. Climb on in there and I'll get you buckled in. >> You are crazy. >> No, we're not. We're not. Go ahead and have a seat, Ms. Collins, okay? >> I don't never feel like I did. >> Okay. Have a seat. Come on. We're just going to take you on a little ride. Just have a seat in there. >> I can't get on this side. It's got all kind of things. I don't want to sit on that. >> Diane, the this side is exactly like the other side. Plus, you got that tree in the way. So, let's just have a seat, okay? NO. I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING. >> ALL RIGHT, DIANE. Let's just have a seat. >> Will you sit down in there first? >> No. >> No, I'm not going to I'm going to sit up front. I'm going to drive you. >> I don't want to drive. I just want to sit up front. >> Well, I can't have you sit up front. Diane, have a seat so we can buckle the seat belt, okay? >> Buckle the seat belt. I ain't going to do nothing. >> No. Yeah, it's a seat belt so you don't get hurt. >> Do you want to know where that coming from? >> No. No, you're fine. Have a seat, Diane. >> Right there. >> Yeah, you reopened your elbow up. Come on, just have a seat. >> That was off on that this morning. >> Okay, Diane. Let's have a seat, hon. Give me the pliers. I swear to god. There we go. All right. Let me get you buckled in. >> Oh my >> During the arrest, Diane began pulling away from officers and resisting physically [music] in moments of panic. At one point during the struggle, she bit one of the deputies while they attempted to safely restrain her. >> Oh my gosh, I ain't going nowhere. >> I just No, it's >> No, you you don't know nothing. >> It's just so you don't get hurt. >> What's that? >> It's a seat belt. See? >> I'm not putting it tight. >> I have to. >> I'm not going to put it tight. >> I don't know what y'all doing, but it ain't me. >> You Look, see? It's just a seat belt. It's just A SEAT BELT. >> NO. MY DOG MY NO. >> DIANE. >> DON'T LEAVE MY DOG. NO. >> I DON'T WANT TO HURT YOU, DIANE. >> NO. >> YOU CAN'T GO. >> NO, WHERE IS MY HUSBAND? THEY GETTING GETTING ME. DON'T DO THAT. >> DIANE. >> DON'T. DON'T. AH. >> [screaming] >> OW. >> UH, NO, NO. NO, NO. NOW, WE'RE done with that, DIANE. WE'RE DONE. GIVE ME THIS ONE >> OW. >> [screaming] [screaming] >> OKAY. >> [screaming] >> DIANE, I'M SORRY. 76, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN. >> Watch your head, Diane. >> Watch your head, Diane. >> Okay. >> You okay? >> Yeah, I'm all right. >> what you got. >> It's right here. >> Did she break skin? >> No, she didn't break the skin. >> All right, I'm going to call um person before we move her out of here, okay? >> So, you just want her to sit there for now? >> That's fine. >> Okay. >> Make sure she's fine. >> The officers continued handling her carefully, speaking in calm voices and trying to avoid hurting or frightening her further. Because to the deputies, this didn't feel like dealing with a violent criminal. It felt like trying to safely control someone whose mind no longer understood the situation around her. >> I mean, like what what do we do with her? >> So, well, he's making some phone calls to find out where we go from here. If she goes up to jail, it's going to be aggravated battery and it's domestic violence related, so she won't even have a bond. She'll have to see a judge tomorrow, which which would be good, cuz then a judge could like force her into I've tried to. All right. >> I told her about all the medicines she takes and takes she she can do without it for a day or two. >> Yeah, she's not even going to know it to tell the nurses at the jail? >> That's what I mean. That's what he's saying. He's going to call all the stuff she takes, so >> Yeah, well, she bit me. >> She really? >> Yeah, she chomped. She was trying to fight me. I I didn't want to slam the door cuz I didn't want to like she's frail. I didn't want to injure her. >> with dentures? She bit >> She bit me with dentures, yeah. >> in? >> Yeah. >> Damn. >> So, it's like, all right, well, let's put some cuffs on her and like kind of restrain her hands a little bit so I can get the door shut after I got the seatbelt on and went to put the cuff on, she just went like ah. Chomped on me. Yeah. I never seen that side of her. She's normally real sweet to me. It's all right. I feel This is one of those where it's like I just feel absolutely terrible. We've been out here a lot. >> I heard my dad talking about coming and I'm like, I say, "Has she hurt you?" And he always says, "No." >> Yeah. >> So, Dad, we got to put her somewhere. He wants to He'll say that he will and then he'll come to me next and say, "Um, we'll think we'll work it out." And I'm like, "Dad, you got to put her somewhere, man." >> going to get worse. My grandmother had dementia. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Yep. Yep. All right. Appreciate it. Bye-bye. All right, all right. Part of it. Taking her, make sure I articulate that she's got severe dementia and has >> The most heartbreaking part wasn't that Diane was being arrested. It was that she barely understood why it was even happening. Following the incident, Diane Collins was formally charged with aggravated domestic battery with a deadly weapon. But, as the case moved forward, authorities ultimately chose not to prosecute her criminally. They understood that the violence had been deeply tied to her severe cognitive decline, rather than any kind of deliberate criminal intent. Diane spent roughly 10 days in jail before being transferred to a memory care facility where professionals could monitor and care for her full-time. The case also raised larger questions far beyond one family. Deputies had already responded to the residence around 11 times in less than a year, yet meaningful intervention had never fully happened before the violence escalated. [music] The situation highlighted how difficult dementia care can become for aging families, especially when affordable long-term care and emergency [music] support systems are limited or delayed. By the time the system stepped in seriously, the situation had already become dangerous. And sadly, the story was nearing its final chapter. After leaving jail, Diane Collins was transferred to a memory care facility in Navarre, where her condition continued to deteriorate physically [music] and mentally. The woman George had spent more than six decades building a life with was now fading further away each day. On September 4th, 2025, roughly 3 months after the attack, [music] Diane passed away. But what do you think? Who was the most affected? George trying to protect the woman he still loved, Diane no longer understanding reality around her, or the deputies being forced to make an impossible [music] decision no family ever wants to face? Let me know your thoughts. I'll see you in the next one.