By Jim Hannah
Enquirer staff writer

BURLINGTON - Rodney Beckham says he didn't do it.

But witnesses saw Beckham with the female victim, he knew details of the attack and there was a bloody shirt in his trash, a Boone County sheriff's detective said.

Boone District Judge Michael Collins said Thursday afternoon that was enough evidence for him to bind the case over to a grand jury.

Beckham, 36, of Carrollton, remained in the Boone County jail late Thursday on $250,000 cash bond. He was arrested Tuesday and charged with being a persistent felony offender and attempted murder.

Detective Vic Lavender of the Boone County Sheriff's Department testified during Beckham's preliminary hearing at the Boone County Justice Center. He said Stacy Beals, 27, of Carrollton, was found unconscious in a room at the Richwood Econo Lodge on Sunday.

"She had massive, no, horrific, trauma to the head," Lavender said. "There was blood all over the place."

Lavender said the attending neurosurgeon told detectives a heavy sharp object caused the injuries. He said Beals had defensive wounds to her hand.

Detectives had not recovered a weapon.

A woman staying in an adjacent room said she was awakened by a noise that night, Lavender said, but the noise didn't lead her to believe someone was in trouble.

Lavender described the events leading up to the assault on Sunday morning: Beckman told police he had been using cocaine with Beals. Beckman described to police how they had driven around Northern Kentucky throughout Saturday night drinking and using drugs.

While police say the two ended up together at the Richwood motel, Beckham said he dropped Beals off in Carrollton unharmed.

Police say Beals is being treated for her injuries at University Hospital in Cincinnati, but officials there would not release her condition.

Beals' family has not returned messages requesting an interview.

E-mail jhannah@enquirer.com