North Highlands Veteran, 91, Dies From Injuries Suffered In Brutal Home Invasion Robbery

NORTH HIGHLANDS (CBS13) — He survived three tours of duty, but a 91-year-old veteran couldn’t survive the brutal beating he suffered in a home invasion.

Akemi Girion had to make the toughest decision of her life this weekend—saying goodbye to her stepfather, John Masson.

“His face was all broken—jaw, cheek, head—everything was broken,” she said. “Even if he survives, hes not going to have a quality life.”

Masson was badly beaten on Oct. 28 when thieves broke into his North Highlands home in the middle of the night. They blindfolded and tied up Girion and a caretaker and demanded Masson’s car keys.

“He didn’t give up his key because hes a military man,” she said.

The suspects left with cash, jewelry and prescriptions drugs instead.

Masson’s injuries were too much, and he died over the weekend.

“This is not a home invasion anymore, its a murder,” she said.

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