Man indicted in grandmother’s death after January Lewes hotel assault

A 30-year-old man has been indicted in the killing of his grandmother, Delaware State Police said.

The grandmother, 72-year-old Elizabeth Fritchey, lived for 12 days after Dempsey Fritchey assaulted her inside the Hyatt House Lewes / Rehoboth Beach hotel on Jan. 29, police said. This is the first time police have publicly acknowledged the woman’s death.

Dempsey Fritchey was indicted by a Sussex County grand jury on April 13 on a charge of first-degree murder, police said. He remains in the Delaware Department of Correction’s custody.

What happened

The Fritcheys were staying at the Lewes-area hotel, located at 17254 Five Points Square, Jan. 29 when police said he began assaulting his grandmother – striking her with his hands and feet.

He then went to the lobby about 5:45 p.m. and told hotel staff that he’d killed his grandmother, police said.

Arriving officers found Dempsey Fritchey near the hotel lobby. He “told troopers that he may have killed his grandmother.”

Troopers went to the Fritcheys’ room, where police said they found the grandmother. She was unconscious and had injuries to her face and head.

Troopers provided her with medical aid until EMS arrived. She was then taken to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries.

She died on Feb. 10 from the injuries she received during the assault, police said.

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