'It's a miracle': Man beaten, robbed after Valentine's Day date recovering
OKLAHOMA COUNTY, Okla. (KFOR) - Derek Schlesinger was not expected to be doing as well as he is after his Valentine's Day date. He was badly beaten and left half-naked in Oklahoma City.
"It's a miracle," said his twin brother Daniel Schlesinger.
The two had their birthday Thursday just a day after Derek's alleged assailants were arrested and more charges added to their case.
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According to an affidavit, Derek met Journey Ivy through Facebook and wanted to take her on a Valentine’s Day date.
Documents say that the two went out and then stopped by Ivy’s home so that she could check on her child. It states that Derek drove her to the Seminole Ridge Apartment Complex on West I-240 Service Road.
It states that Ivy left to go into her home and when she returned she told police her brother Thomas Jones was in the car. Allegedly Jones had started beating Derek with an object several times in the face.
The two allegedly took off with his vehicle as well.
Oklahoma City Police report that they responded on February 15 to the area to find a man bloody, half-naked, and uncooperative. Detectives later found that Derek was unable to speak and his brother thought he would be unable to walk or talk due to his injuries.
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But thanks to a relatively new form of physical therapy/treatment at Inspire Specialty Hospital in Midwest City, he is up walking, talking, and eating. As of March 15th Daniel sent a video showing Derek doing a whole lot more than what he could.
"The feeding tube, breathing assistance, and catheter have all been removed. It's amazing," said Daniel. "It was like a day where everything just got better for him and that day was our birthday. Just to witness all of this within the last day or so has been nothing less than a miracle and a phenomenal birthday present."
Pictures and videos show Derek barely talking and barely eating his birthday cake, but something is better than what Daniel said he thought would happen.
Daniel said that Derek participated in a program called Liberation from Ventilation at Inspire. He said that the key focus is getting patients off of the ventilator early by using mobilization.
"It's all thanks to the nurses here and Crystal who started this," said Daniel.
As for Derek's alleged assailants, court records show that after a search warrant was issued for phones, a new arrest warrant was issued for Jones and Ivy. The warrant was returned on March 12th.
Now Ivy has several more counts added to her case.
In total, they both face charges of maiming, conspiracy to commit a felony, robbery first-degree, and aggravated assault and battery. Ivy's bond is set at $100,000 while Jones' bond is set at $500,000.