Suspect in 2-by-4 beating jailed (MUG)

A Pensacola man suspected of beating his landlord in the head with a two-by-four remained in the Escambia County Jail on Friday on a $100,000 bond.

Donald Stanley Verne, 49, faces felony aggravated battery charges in connection with the Thursday evening attack of Peter Delmonico, 51, at his home on Queens Court in Pensacola.

Found on his living room floor in a pool of blood, Delmonico suffered serve head trauma to the left side of his head, the Sheriff's Office said.

Investigators believe Stanley, who rents a mobile home behind Delmonico's house, hit Delmonico with a two-by-four found at the scene, Sheriff's Office spokesman Sgt. Ted Roy said Friday.

The lumber was found propped next to the refrigerator and appeared to have bloody fingerprints on it, a Sheriff's Office report said.

Delmonico was taken to Baptist Hospital after the attack. He was listed in critical condition Friday night, hospital staff said.

The incident began about 6:30 p.m., when deputies responded to reports of a possible gunshot victim at 35 Queens Court, off North Old Corry Field Road. Because of the extent of Delmonico's injures, first responders initially weren't sure if he was shot or beaten.

Katie and Kevin Thomas called deputies after they found Delmonico during a visit to his home. While inside, Katie Thomas spotted Verne, who appeared to be hiding in the kitchen.

Verne said he had just gotten out of the shower and didn't know what happened to Delmonico. Verne then left the house headed toward Old Corry Field Road.

He was found with blood on his shirt at Martha Avenue and Old Corry Field Road, about two blocks from Delmonico's home. When deputies detained Verne, he said, "he lives at 35 Queens Court, and a drug dealer did it," the Sheriff's Office report said.

Delmonico was booked into county jail on charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. His next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 19, the Sheriff's Office said.