Buddhist Monk Severely Beaten In Spencer, Teen Suspects Sought

A Buddhist monk nearly beaten to death by area teens is speaking out. He says the attackers thought he had money.

They beat him Friday until he lost consciousness, and those teens are still on the run.

Weera Chulsuwan, 66, also known as "Tony the Monk," says he took at least 15 blows to the head and face, and was in and out of consciousness for over 24 hours. But somehow he found the strength to crawl several feet from his yard to his home and call 911.

For more than 30 years Chulsuwan has been a devoted Buddhist Monk, but he's no longer affiliated with a temple, and spends all of his time on his small farm in Spencer, Okla.

"They came to see me very often. They even get off the bus and say, ‘Hi Tony,'" said Chulsuwan.

Chulsuwan says he knew his two attackers very well and has lived down the street from one of them for more than 15 years.

"I didn't think they were going to hurt me because I know them," said Chulsuwan.

Friday afternoon, the two teens jumped over Chulsuwan's gate and asked if he was selling a horse. But Chulsuwan thinks that was a distraction.

"I saw the lock was still locked. I said, ‘How did you get in here man,'" said Chulsuwan.

Within Minutes, the teens began beating Chulsuwan, demanding cash.

"They asked me ‘Where your money?' I say, ‘What money? I don't have no money,'" said Chulsuwan.

He says one teen used a logging chain, the other a steel pipe, beating Chulsuwan to the point where he couldn't move. Even though he felt he was left to die, he says he has already forgiven the teens. But he wants them caught before they hurt someone else.

"I have to forgive. I don't want to sit in charcoal, hot charcoal, or pour acid in my heart," said Chulsuwan.

The two teenage suspects took an old pistol, a rifle and a cell phone from Chulsuwan. He believes he was simply an easy target.

At this point, police are still looking for the two teens.