(MOBILE, Ala.) On Thanksgiving evening, family and friends gathered around the table at 364 Bourgeois Ct. to celebrate the holiday.
At the table?
23 year old Mallory Owens and her girl friend, Ally.
Also there were Ally's brother, Travis Hawkins, Jr, and their father, Travis Hawkins, Sr.
But sometime that night this family gathering fell apart.
Mallory Owens' face was so badly beaten, she no longer resembles the photographs taken before the holiday.
Mallory lay broken and bleeding on the floor.
The family gathering was over.
It has become a violent, bizarre and somewhat complicated story.
"The cause of that is not what's being put out there right now, I don't think," said attorney Jim Byrd.
He's the attorney for Travis Hawkins Jr, the brother of Mallory's girl friend and the on charged with causing these horrific injuries.
Some family and friends of Mallory's are certain this was the result of an attack triggered by hate- that Travis couldn't accept Mallory's gay lifestyle.
But attorney Jim Byrd says, hold on.
"Obviously, Travis, Jr's sister's sexual orientation, he accepts that. Mallory was or is back with the family and they're partners," said the lawyer.
Bird says gay bashing wasn't the cause of the altercation.
But he also acknowledges he hasn't talked with his client.
Not yet.
"Because he's basically hiding right now for fear of repercussions from this allegation," said Byrd.
But the threats are not just reserved for his client, it seems.
"I've received at least 3 threatening emails myself for defending him," he revealed.
Travis Hawkins, Jr has already bonded out of jail, and faces a hearing next month.
Mallory's family members say they're bewildered. Tuesday they met with the District Attorney to see if more can be done to prosecute Travis Hawkins, Jr.
