Woman wanted after allegedly beating 94-year-old mother with hammer

ATLANTA (FOX 5 Atlanta) - Police have secured warrants for the arrest of a woman who allegedly beat her elderly mother with a hammer.

According to an Atlanta Police Department report, officers responded to the home of Willie Monroe, 94, and her daughter, Sandy Mathis, 56, after Monroe called 911 December 3 to report Mathis had hit her repeatedly with the tool.  The attack reportedly came after the two women got into an argument about Mathis's boyfriend being at the house late. 

"I guess her rage came up and she just, 'bink!'  Just snapped," said Ronald Monroe, Mathis's older brother.

Police said Mathis told officers they had only had a verbal argument, but Monroe later checked herself into Grady Memorial Hospital where doctors discovered injuries to both her hands. 

Ronald Monroe said his mother suffered bruises and broken bones that will take several more weeks to heal fully.  He said he is glad her injuries were not worse. 

"I look at it as a warning," said Monroe.  "I think God stepped in and stopped her right there at the edge so that she could get a warning about what she was doing. 'Hey, look what you're doing.  This is your mom that brought you into this world.'"

Monroe said his sister has lived with his mother for more than two decades and this was the culmination of years of verbal and physical abuse.  According to Atlanta Police, they responded to the home 32 times in just the last two years. 

Mathis is wanted on charges of simple battery and aggravated assault.  Family members said she told them Tuesday that she planned to turn herself in.