70-year-old man accused of hitting brother with hammer

BENTON, Mo. -- A Sikeston, Missouri, area man is in jail accused of repeatedly striking his brother with a hammer.

Jerry E. Savat, 70, is in custody on charges of second-degree domestic assault and armed criminal action.

According to Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter, a deputy went to Savat's residence early Friday morning about an assault.

"Upon arrival it was discovered that Savat's brother had a head injury, his face and chest area were covered with blood," Walter said in a news release. "The victim, Bruce Savat, told the deputy that his brother struck him in the head with a hammer during an argument."

When questioned, Jerry Savat told the deputy he "lost it" during the argument and struck Bruce Savat in the head with a hammer several times, Walter reported.

Jerry Savat is being held in the Scott County Jail on a $25,000 bond.