Father denies role in state rep. beating

CARMEL, Ind. (WISH) - The father of Augustus Mendenhall, the man accused of trying to kill a state representative, has responded to the alleged attack. Burke Mendenhall spoke out just hours after his son told the media he's been holding a grudge against Representative Ed DeLaney for more than two decades.

Augustus Mendenhall said DeLaney caused his family to lose everything, including their home.

In the 80s, DeLaney was the attorney involved in a lawsuit that ended when property belonging to Mendenhall's father was confiscated by the city. It was going to be used to sell porn.

"Mr. DeLaney, through his power and influence, has done a great injustice to my family," said Mendenhall.

Mendenhall admits to luring DeLaney to a vacant property in Carmel under false pretenses.

"It was never my intent to do physical harm to him," he said.

DeLaney's family said Mendenhall tried to shoot him, but the gun jammed. That's when the beating started.

"Things went very wrong," Mendenhall said. "I tried to frighten him as close as I possibly could to make him feel that he was going to lose everything."

Mendenhall told authorities he had just gotten back from Miami and was homeless. But it turns out Mendenhall's parents live just one mile away from where the attack happened on Catherine Drive.

24-Hour News 8 asked Burke Mendenhall if he told his son to attack Ed DeLaney.

"That's the most ridiculous question I've ever heard. That's all I have to say," said Burke.

Mendenhall is in jail on $3 million bond. He's facing numerous charges including attempted murder.