Deaf Mississippi couple attacked; self-defense class set

A deaf couple recently was attacked in their North Mississippi home. As a result, a nationally known self-defense expert is coming to Mississippi to offer a class to members of the hearing-impaired community.

Diann and Jimmy Kelley were bound and beaten in their Olive Branch home July 18, said Maj. William Cox of the Olive Branch Police Department's investigations division.

Investigators believe three suspects broke into the Kelleys' home through a doorway. Diann Kelley is 68. Jimmy Kelley is 78. Both are deaf, Cox said.

Diann and Jimmy Kelley each were assaulted and restrained, Cox said. He wouldn't release further details about the incident, citing the ongoing investigation.

Three suspects were arrested within eight hours of the attack.

Jeffrey Richardson, 20, was charged with one count of home invasion, one count of aggravated assault and one count of attempted murder.

Charles Gayles, 19, and Chalontae Smith, 17, each were charged with two counts of home invasion, one count of aggravated assault and one count of attempted murder.

Cox said Gayles and Smith broke into the Kelleys' home on July 10 as well, allegedly entering through the garage.

All three waived their initial appearances, were bound over to grand jury and are in the custody of the Desoto County jail, Cox said.

In response to the attack, Angela Maria Nardolillo, a California-based jiu-jitsu instructor who signs in American Sign Language, will be teaching a series of self-defense classes in Madison. 

While one of the seminars is strictly for members of the hearing-impaired community, two of the classes are for all women.

Michelle Cottrell, assistant instructor at Gracie Jiu Jitsu in Madison, where the classes will take place, said the class "meets a need that's not being met."

Cottrell said the class is offered to women several times a year "to bring awareness to the community, to let them know what’s out there and given them options to defend themselves."

Originally slated as a self-defense seminar for young women going to college, the class for the hearing-impaired community was added in light of the recent attack.

Cottrell noted some members of the community can't communicate verbally.

"There is a huge community, and they get left behind," Cottrell said. "We take for granted because we can holler or tell somebody if we’re in trouble. When the lights go out and they can’t see, they have no level of communication. It's tragic, and we just want to give them an opportunity to learn to defend themselves."

For information on the class, call 601-898-1144 or visit www.takemeoffthegrid.org.

Contact Sarah Fowler at sfowler@gannett.com or 601-961-7303. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter.