DeLand man, 87, who suffered facial fractures in home invasion earlier this month, has died

Photos for Headline Surfer / Carl Husfeld, an 87-yar-old DeLand-area resident who lived alone, was taken off life support Thursday, Dec. 23, at Seminole County Regional Hospital in Sanford, Florida,    having suffered multiple facial fractures struggling with a home invader when he was hit by an interior door onew or more times. His attacker remains at large with scant information released by the Volusia County Sheriff's Office.
 
By HENRY FREDERICK
Headline Surfer

DELAND, Fla. -- An 87-year-old man injured earlier this month during a home invasion of his home near DeLand by a lone burglar that left him clinging to life with multiple fractures to his face and head died today, a spokesman for Sheriff Ben Johnson said.

"The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to investigate the burglary as deputies search for the suspect responsible," Andrew Gant, one of Johnson's two civilian PIOs, said in a press release to Headline Surfer and other media outlets. "Carl Husfeld was injured on the morning of Dec. 8 after he interrupted the burglar entering his home at 12 Oak Circle." 

Husfeld was taken to Florida Hospital DeLand, then Central Florida Regional Hospital in Sanford with fractures to several bones in his face and head. He was later listed in critical condition. Today, two days before Christmas, the elderly man was taken off life support.

Andrew Gant, Sheriff's PIO / Headline Surfer"The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to investigate the burglary as deputies search for the suspect responsible," Andrew Gant, one of Johnson's two civilian PIOs shown here, said in a press release to Headline Surfer and other media outlets. "Carl Husfeld was injured on the morning of Dec. 8 after he interrupted the burglar entering his home at 12 Oak Circle." 

Husfeld was taken to Florida Hospital DeLand, then Central Florida Regional Hospital in Sanford with fractures to several bones in his face and head. He was later listed in critical condition. Today, two days before Christmas, the elderly man was taken off life support.

Here's a brief synopsis of what happened that morning as told by the critically injured Husfeld to deputies, according to Gant: He was in his home around 6:50 a.m. when he heard someone breaking in. When Husfeld went to one of the doors in the house to investigate, he was met by a man he described as short, stocky and wearing dark clothing. Husfeld was hit in the face by the door during a struggle with the burglar, who took off.

Gant said investigators are reviewing evidence in the case, but no additional details are being made publicly available at this time such as what kind of weapon, if any had been shown or used besides the door, what items, if any, were taken from the house and whether the the intruder got into a waiting vehicle, while the investigation is active and ongoing.

However, anyone with any information they believe might be relevant to the case is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office Major Case Unit at 386-254-1535 or Crime Stoppers toll-free at (888) 277-TIPS. Callers to Crime Stoppers will remain anonymous and can qualify for a reward of up to $5,000. Tips also can be anonymously submitted to Crime Stoppers by downloading the smartphone app from the Crime Stoppers web site (http://www.westopcrime.com).