NY Man Gouges Out Grandma's Eyes Over Debit Card: Prosecutor

NY Man Gouges Out Grandma’s Eyes Over Debit Card: Prosecutor

A Long Island man blinded his grandmother by gouging her eyes out during an argument, prosecutors say.

Micheal Grief, 30, started arguing with his 78-year-old grandmother at their home in Sayville around 7:45 p.m. on Feb. 19, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office said Wednesday.

The argument started after Grief allegedly overdrew $1,000 from her bank account using her debit card, the DA’s office said.

At some point during the fight, Grief’s grandmother started to fear for her safety and left the house to get help from a neighbor, according to the DA’s office.

That’s when Grief followed her outside, “accosted her… and gouged her eyes with his fingers,” the DA’s office said.

The attack ruptured the globes of her eyes, according to the DA’s office.

The grandmother was taken to the hospital, where she had surgery in an attempt to save her vision, but has been given a “less than 1 percent chance to regain any vision,” the DA’s office said.

Grief has been charged with one count of first-degree assault and two counts of second-degree assault. Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy Sini called the case “extremely disturbing.”

“When [Grief] was talking to police and was told he had gouged his grandmother’s eyes out, he was very dismissive,” Sini said in a statement. “He said, ‘So?,’ shrugged his shoulders and appeared to be apathetic toward the situation.”

Grief is expected to appear in court again on March 15. He could face up to 25 years in prison if he’s convicted.

His attorney information wasn’t immediately available Wednesday.

Photo Credit: Getty Images/Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office