Click here for updates on this story
Portland, Oregon (KPTV) — A wife is calling for change after her husband was attacked in Portland.
The attack happened Aug. 12 outside the 7-Eleven off Southeast 71st Avenue and Southeast Powell Boulevard.
It’s what left Bill Nickelby in the intensive care unit (ICU) for days with a skull fracture and a brain bleed.
Kimberlee Nickelby, Bill Nickelby’s wife, said they were having a party with friends and family and he ran to 7-Eleven to pick up snacks.
When he didn’t return, she went to look for him.
She said she asked a man near a red car what had happened, not knowing that that man would later be Kory Thomle who was arrested for the attack and is now facing assault charges.
She said he told her it looked like her husband had a medical emergency and was taken to the hospital.
According to court documents obtained by FOX 12, a witness reported seeing Thomle outside with a bat.
That witness allegedly went into the 7-Eleven and when he came back outside, Nickelby was on the ground bleeding from the head and barely conscious.
Kimberlee Nickelby told FOX 12 on Saturday she wants justice for her husband.
“I feel with as many times as he was hit with this it should be attempted murder and this guy should not be out ever again,” she said.
Kimberlee Nickelby said Thomle was homeless, living in his car in her neighborhood for months, and allegedly asked Bill Nickelby if he would buy him beer.
Court documents say Nickelby’s response to Thomle was that it would be sketchy or he was sketchy.
Later that night, a note was found on Nickelby’s car that police say matched the penmanship of Thomle.
“Next time sir, you need to think twice about who you call sketchy,” the note read. “I just did a 25-year stretch for murder. You got lucky be happy you’re alive. THINK before running your mouth. I’m not out here cuz I like it.”
Kimberlee Nickelby said this attack is linked to a bigger issue in Portland: the homeless situation which she says is out of control.
“Our safety in our community and the homeless crisis that we have and the mental things that we have going on, I would just be hopeful that something could be done,” she said.
As for Nickelby’s recovery, his wife said he might not be able to drive a car or motorcycle again and it’s likely he won’t be able to hear out of his left ear.
Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.
