ROSWELL, Ga. — A man was attacked in Roswell Area Park Tuesday night and left in a pool of his own blood, police said.
A witness stated to police that he was going for an evening walk when he noticed 40-year-old Matthew Donald lying roughly 20 feet off the trail in one of the parking lots around 9:25 p.m, according to Roswell officers. When he walked over closer to him, he realized he was hurt and spotted a large pool of blood surrounding him, according to a statement from police.
The witness went home to get his phone and called 911 at 9:37 p.m. to report it to authorities, police said. When officers arrived on the scene, they said they noticed Matthew had significant injuries to his head and his face. Police said they did not notice a blood trail, signaling the victim fell where he was attacked.
Matthew's father, Dean Donald, told 11Alive's Hope Ford that his son doesn't live far from the park and considers him an avid walker. Matthew had just put his 7-month-old to sleep and went to the park for another evening walk.
"His thing is to walk early morning and early evening, that's what he really likes doing," Dean said. "He walks 20,000 plus steps a day. So, he walks all over Roswell."
Two other witnesses told police they saw Matthew lying on the ground but did not realize he was hurt, investigators said. One witness said that he had noticed three vehicles leaving the park in a hurry when he arrived and that one of the vehicles appeared to be a "Morelia Taxi."
Dean recounted how his son had just bought brand new red tennis shoes, so when he heard about his son getting attacked, he figured that whoever did it must have wanted to steal the shoes.
"But that wasn't it because when they [witnesses] found him laying here he was unconscious," Dean recalled. "He was all beat up and the shoes were placed neatly next to him."
Matthew is currently in the ICU and was able to give his father and hospital staff two thumbs up, according to his father. His eyes are both severely bruised and swollen shut. Matthew was initially on a ventilator to help with breathing while under heavy sedation.
Police are asking for the public's help in investigating if anyone was at the park on Tuesday evening.
Police do not yet have a motive behind the attack, but they are hopeful they will be able to learn more once they can speak to the victim, authorities said.
"We're baffled by the whole thing," Dean said. "He's been doing this a long, long time and he's friendly and outgoing; one of the friendliest people I've ever met."
This is a developing story. Check back often for new information.
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