Suspect in savage beating faces life

KENTWOOD, Mich. (WOOD) - Judges usually give crime victims and their families a chance to speak to the person believed responsible for the crime at sentencing, after the person is either convicted or pleads guilty.

But in the case against Randall Lachniet, Kentwood District Court Judge William Kelly let Betty Oosterhouse's family talk directly to the accused during his video arraignment.

Judge Kelly later told 24 Hour News 8 he wanted to hear what the family had to say before deciding on bond for Lachniet, which Kelly set at $1 million.

"You are not a member of society that needs to ever see the streets again," said Oosterhouse's daughter, Kathy Nagelkerk, speaking to a small video screen that carried Lachniet's image live from the Kent County Jail into the Kentwood courtroom.

Lachniet, 46, is charged with five counts, including torture, home invasion, armed robbery, fleeing and eluding police and cutting the phone line to the victim's home.

Betty Oosterhouse thought she recognized the man who allegedly came to her door Monday morning claiming car trouble.

With good reason.

Police believe Lachniet was a on a crew working on her home's roof earlier in the summer.

Lachniet allegedly forced his way into the home on Farnham near Division after coming to the door and claiming he had car trouble.

But Oosterhouse, 80, who does 250 sit ups each day according to her son, fought back, at one point biting the suspect's his finger or hand.

"She fought hard. She bit him," Jim Oosterhouse said. "They wrestled with a kitchen knife in the floor in a pool of blood."

Tuesday, cleaning crews were at the home. Jim Oosterhouse said the fight left a half-inch of blood on his mother's kitchen floor.

Along with cuts and other injuries that caused her head to swell, the beating knocked out Betty Oosterhouse's teeth.

Despite those injuries, Jim Ooosterhouse said his mother's been able to tell them much of what happened. And a neurologist told the family her brain seems to be functioning normal.

"She's recovering quite well from the savage beating she took," her son said. "Her face and head was unrecognizable."

Lachniet has a long criminal record between 1980 and 2006, including assault with a dangerous weapon, writing bad checks, stealing cars, escaping from police, and breaking and entering.

The breaking-and-entering earned Lachniet a prison stay of 1 year, 11 months - 10 years. He was paroled in May after serving just over three years.

A State Department of Corrections spokesman said there was no early release. Lachniet's time served was typical of someone doing time on a similar conviction.

But that's not good enough for Jim Oosterhouse, who also addressed Lachniet during his arraignment.

"I never want to see you in society again," he said.

If Lachniet's convicted, the family will probably get their wish. He's looking at up to life in prison.