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Strangers save 71-year-old father nearly beaten to death while walking dog



CAVE CREEK, Ariz. (KTVK/KPHO/Gray News) - An Arizona family got the chance to thank two strangers who saved their father’s life after he was nearly beaten to death while walking the dog.

Jeff Zimmerman, 71, is continuing his recovery after police say he was nearly beaten to death Dec. 13 during a random attack in his Cave Creek neighborhood. His daughter, Kiera Zimmerman, says two strangers witnessed the attack and rushed in to help, pulling the attacker off and ultimately saving her father’s life.

The 71-year-old spent four days in the intensive care unit before moving to the trauma unit. He suffered head injuries, broken bones, and trauma to his right eye. His daughter says the past two weeks have been extremely difficult for him, especially given his nearly two-decade-long fight with a brain tumor.


The attack happened as 71-year-old Jeff Zimmerman was walking the family dog in his neighborhood.
According to Phoenix police, charges have been filed in the case,
but investigators have not released any information about the suspect, including age or name. 
(Arizona's Family)

As Jeff Zimmerman slowly recovers, his family says their focus is now on thanking the people who stepped in to save him. His daughter says the experience is a powerful reminder of how quickly strangers’ lives can become connected.

Dee Brown and another stranger sprang into action after Jeff Zimmerman was attacked by someone on a bike while walking the family dog. They pulled the attacker off the 71-year-old and held him in place for nearly 20 minutes until police arrived.

Two weeks later, Kiera Zimmerman met Brown, a moment both women had been hoping for. The two sat together at a park table, hand in hand, talking through the moments that changed their lives.

“My family’s eternally grateful for you,” Kiera Zimmerman told Brown. “I’d be so scared if you saw people getting beaten up on the street. You were just brave.”

“People are calling me brave, but I don’t see myself as brave. I just saw myself getting out and helping your dad. I didn’t even give it a second thought,” Brown said.

But for Jeff Zimmerman’s family, Brown’s courage changed everything.

“I think we’re going to have Christmas and Thanksgiving together now,” Kiera Zimmerman said. “I think we’re family at this point.”

“We’re friends forever,” Brown said.

A GoFundMe has been set up to help Jeff Zimmerman and his family with medical costs related to the attack and his ongoing brain tumor treatments, which are estimated to exceed $200,000.

Phoenix Police say charges have been submitted in the case, but investigators have not released any information about the suspect, including his name or age. The victim’s family says he did not know his attacker, and police have described the assault as random.

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