The victim, Gheonna Lacy, finished a third-shift job and was heading to her car when two hooded figures rushed her, one with a bat.
RACINE, Wis. — Detectives are piecing together footage and witness accounts after a pregnant woman was beaten with a baseball bat outside a group home just before dawn Thursday on the city’s north side.
Police said the assault happened near Golf Avenue and Windsor Drive shortly before 7 a.m., minutes after Lacy ended an overnight shift as a caretaker. The case has been assigned to the department’s violent crimes unit. As of Friday night, no arrests had been announced. Lacy’s friend said the fetus was stable Friday as the mother remained hospitalized, and family members said they were organizing support for her recovery while investigators canvassed the neighborhood for more video.
In video from a nearby doorbell camera, two people in hooded clothing sprint off-screen toward a car believed to be Lacy’s. The microphone captured screams and blunt impacts. Speaking from her hospital bed, Lacy said she was knocked to the ground, stomped, and struck as she tried to shield her stomach. She said she recognized a woman involved from earlier encounters tied to a relationship dispute but did not know the man. The attackers ran and she crawled to safety before calling 911.
Authorities have not released the victim’s injuries, suspect names, or an official motive. Investigators are reviewing whether earlier police contacts exist, including any calls about harassment. Officers returned to the area Friday, checking for cameras and asking residents what they saw or heard. The block includes small care facilities and homes where overnight workers are common, leaving and arriving while it is still dark in mid-January.
Racine police said the case appears targeted and offered no indication of similar incidents in the area this week. The department often requests private video in investigations like this and pieces together timelines by matching audio cues with vehicle movements and shadows in multiple angles. The early hour, winter temperatures, and limited light can complicate image clarity, detectives say, making audio from devices like doorbell cameras crucial for establishing a sequence.
Should arrests occur, the suspects would likely make an initial appearance in Racine County Circuit Court, where probable cause statements typically outline the first set of facts and charges. Police have not scheduled a briefing but said updates will be provided as evidence is processed. Friends said Lacy is focused on her pregnancy and is fearful about returning to work until suspects are caught.
Neighbors said they woke to flashing lights as squads remained on the block after sunrise Thursday. “It’s usually quiet,” one resident said, declining to give a name because the suspects remain at large. Hunter, Lacy’s friend from Texas, called her “a good mother” who splits time between work and home and described the audio as “hard to listen to.”
The investigation remained active through the weekend with no arrests announced. Detectives are expected to continue interviews and video collection early this week.
Author note: Last updated January 18, 2026.