A senior citizen is speaking out after being carjacked outside of her Orange County condominium early Monday morning.
Seventy-seven-year-old Charlesey Smedley, is bruised and battered, but she’s in good spirits as she recovers from a black eye, a swollen wrist and broken ribs.
With the suspect on the loose, she can’t help but ponder one question.
“I would just say, why did you do it?” Smedley said.
Deputies said Smedley was thrown from her car while being carjacked outside the Capri at Hunters Creek Condominiums off Hunters Creek Boulevard near Orange Blossom Trail around 2 a.m.
“I thought he was trying to help me to hit the keypad for the gate to get my car in,” recalled Smedley.
“I actually told him what my keypad numbers and then I guess he came closer to my window and said ‘get out’ and I didn’t understand what he said and he said two more times and he got mad because I wouldn’t get out. So he grabbed me like this and pulled me out of my car and I actually hit the curb, right there where the keypad thing is in the driveway and he got in and drove off.”
Smedley was taken to Florida Hospital Kissimmee and released a few hours later.
“She reminded me of my grandmother,” said Orange County Sheriff’s Office robbery detective Jason Sams. “We all have parents or grandmothers of that age, who are out and about every day. She was coming home from a family event, pulling into her neighborhood, which is a safe area and was targeted.”
Smedley wants justice, but is ready to forgive her attacker.
“I wouldn’t be bitter or anything like that,” Smedley said. “I might say ‘that’s awful what you did’ or ask him why he did it. I can tell you know why he did it -- to steal my car.”
If you know who this suspect is or have seen the victim's blue 2003 Hyundai accent, call Crimeline at (800) 423-TIPS (8477).