Guthrie Man Recovering After Brutal Beating, Attacker Still At Large

Antonio Taylor’s family and friends told News 9 he's showing some signs of improvement. He's out of the coma and is even joking around a little, but his road to recovery will be a long expensive one.

Taylor’s biker buddies are proud to call him “brother.” They say he didn’t deserve the beating he suffered.  

"Most men do have a fighter in them," said Joe Errigo, a longtime friend of Taylor’s. “But it's kind of like a rule of code. When it's done it's done. They’re not defending themselves you're not making any more of a point."

Deputies said Taylor was attacked September 18 by Tommy Lee Tucker, 33, of Guthrie.   

They said Tucker continued to beat Taylor long after Taylor was unconscious. Tucker is still on the loose. 

"There’s still an active search for Mr. Tucker,” said Logan County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Greg Valencia. “We are holding a Logan County warrant for his arrest for aggravated assault and battery."

The beating was so severe, family members said Taylor died twice and was revived. He was placed in a medically-induced coma for several days. 

Now that he’s awake, the family is worried about permanent brain damage. 

"Anybody who knows him knows he's very funny. He's very loud all the time," said Taylor’s aunt, Daisy Powell. “And now that ... I don't see that in him.”

Friends are planning a charity motorcycle ride this weekend to help Taylor pay mounting medical bills and to help his family get by while he recovers. 

"This dude gets up every day, goes to work, takes care of his family,” Errigo said. “It's ... it's sad."

Registration for the ride begins at 10 a.m. at The Blowout Club, 320 West Harrison in Guthrie. 

Riders will stop at Pops in Arcadia and The Seaba Station Motorcycle Museum in Wellston before returning to The Blowout Club for a barbecue.  Riders are asked to donate what they can.