William J. Gajdik leaves the courtroom after making his initial appearance in Dearborn Circuit Court on October 11.
Mike Perleberg-Eagle 99.3
(St. Leon, Ind.) – Friends are coming together to help out a Dearborn County man who was the victim of a violent crime.
Rob Tibbits was shot in the back last September, allegedly by William Gajdik.
Gajdik, an escaped convict from Nebraska, was confronted by a homeowner whose home on North Dearborn Road he was burglarizing earlier that day. He ran and police began a search throughout the area.
Gajdik allegedly broke into Tibbits’ home on Ruth Avenue in Logan Township about a half-mile away. When Tibbits arrived home, he was shot in the back by Gajdik, who then stole Tibbits’ Ford Thunderbird, investigators said.
Tibbits was aircared to a Cincinnati hospital following the shooting. He remained in the hospital for weeks, even past the time Gajdik was arrested at a motel in Minnesota on October 4.
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Medical bills have been mounting as Tibbits continues to recover. He’s undergone seven surgeries and months of rehabilitation.
The event to raise money to cover the expenses – aptly titled the “Rob Tibbits Home Invasion Benefit” - will be Saturday, February 11 from 4:00 to 10:00 p.m. at the St. Leon American Legion Post 464, 28866 Post Road, St. Leon.
A turkey dinner will be served from 4:00 to 8:00 with carry out available and a free will donation.
The fundraiser will also include music, raffles, split-the-pot, and more. Some of the raffles are for a flat screen television and Blue-Ray player.
People who are unable to attend the event, but would still like to help out can donate to a recovery fund for Rob Tibbits at Cincinnati Employees Credit Union. The address is Rob Tibbits Acct: Special #06, Cincinnati Employees Credit Union, 7420 Kilby Rd. Harrison, OH 45030.
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