On a late May night in Kingsport, Tennessee, an Ooltewah family detoured from a road trip and entered the unlocked home of a stranger.
They were following the lead of Matt Stoddard — their father and husband, who appeared to be going through a highly uncharacteristic mental health crisis.
The homeowner came back, sheriff’s deputies were called and three cars with flashing blue lights came to the house.
When deputies arrested Stoddard, his family said goodbye to a physically healthy man, his brother said.
In a hospital days later, when Stoddard’s family was allowed to see him again, they saw a man who looked like he’d been beaten.