Man Paralyzed After Attempting to Kill Wife
Virginia Beach, Virginia — A man from Florida was shot and paralyzed after attacking his wife and stepdaughter earlier this month.
According to Virginia Beach Police, 65-year-old Frank Herbig hatched an elaborate plan to kill his estranged wife who had moved in with her daughter into the Virginia Beach area.
On September 8th at around 9:45 p.m. police responded to a call of a shooting at a home located on Bunsen Dr.
When officers arrived, they found Herbig suffering from a gunshot wound to the back. Herbig was transported to the hospital for treatment of his injuries while investigators began to uncover clues and speak to the victims.
The stepdaughter told detectives that she had been letting her dog out of the house and into the backyard when she was attacked by Herbig with a big wrench. He then forced his way into the home and began to assault his wife with the same wrench.
While the attack was going on, the stepdaughter was able to get to a gun and returned, shooting Herbig in the back, severing his spine and paralyzing him.
As detectives worked the case, they discovered the car he’d used to drive to the victim’s home. Inside were many items Herbig had brought with him to commit the crime including several weapons: a wooden baton, the wrench he used in the attack, and a gun.
Along with the weapons were various items Herbig hoped would help him in the commission of the crime: disguises, trash bags, duct tape, and zip ties.
Also in the car was a journal detailing the elaborate plan Herbig hatched in order to kill his wife. He’d switched between several cars to make the trip from Florida where he had one of his many homes and brought gas cans with him, full, so he wouldn’t need to stop for gas along the way.
Hoping to escape detection, the suspect also avoided using credit cards by bringing cash along on the road trip to Virginia Beach
Law enforcement authorities declined to press charges against the stepdaughter who shot Herbig in the back, saying that if she had not intervened, he would have certainly killed her mother.
Although Herbig was arrested and charged with aggravated malicious wounding and breaking and entering with intent to commit a felony, his paralysis from the gunshot wound prevented him from going to court for his bond hearing. This necessitated him appearing before the court from his hospital bed via video conferencing call.
His defense team asked the judge to allow their client to be released on bond so that he may continue to get the care he requires which the staff of the jail would be unable to provide.
Prosecutors, however, asked the judge to consider Herbig a flight risk due to his wealth, connections to pilots and aircraft, and several houses he owns including one located on the Canadian border.
The judge agreed with prosecutors and denied the suspect bond but says she will return to the matter if his defense attorneys can develop a plan of secure treatment.
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