A resident at the Hastings Veterans Home who was beaten in an attack by another resident this month has died, according to the Ramsey County medical examiner.
Richard Lynn Jackson, 54, had been in a coma in intensive care at Regions Hospital in St. Paul since the Aug. 4 attack. He had extensive head injuries, including skull fractures and bleeding throughout the brain.
Dakota County prosecutors had already filed attempted murder charges against Randall Sears, 44, in connection with the beating. He remains in the Dakota County jail in lieu of $750,000 bail.
According to the criminal complaint, Sears told police that he beat Jackson. "You want to talk to me; I did it," Sears said to responding officers.
Initial assault charges against Sears were elevated to attempted murder charges after additional witnesses came forward.
Officials have said that a motive in the assault remained unclear but that the two were acquaintances.
Jackson had lived in the home since fall 2007; Sears had been there since February.
LORA PABST
