Witnesses describe a chilling scene.

According to Emmet County Sheriff Matt Leirstein, Zarling’s aggressive behavior escalated quickly after the victim confronted him. Leirstein said, “So, the suspect in this case was reported to be kicking a dog. We don’t know if it was his own dog or a neighbor’s dog, but the victim in this case tried to intervene and stop him from kicking the dog and he in turn turned his aggression towards her and savagely beat her.”

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Nearby onlookers, Cody and Charlie Parks, were beside a campfire when they heard screams. Cody recalled, “Well, my brother and I, we were standing here in the yard having a campfire and we heard some unusual screams that stopped us in our tracks. We turned and listened closer. At that moment we saw someone run across the street screaming for help, screaming that he’s killing her.”

Charlie added, “The scene that I walked into was the scariest things that I’ve seen in my life. The man was beating the woman, who was my neighbor, and her husband came in to intervene and he got attacked by the man and my brother came in and put the dude in a chokehold to try to get him off.”

Sheriff tips hat to Parks brothers.

Sheriff Leirstein said, “Had it not been for the bravery of two young men intervening in this case, the victim is more than likely going to die from her injuries or die from the beating that the suspect had given to her.”

On August 22, Emmet County law enforcement and officials honored the Parks brothers for their bravery, presenting them with plaques. Mike Schuitema, prosecuting attorney for Emmet County said at the ceremony, “I just want to express, on behalf of law enforcement, we often times see people at their worst, at their lowest points…We see people making a lot of mistakes, making selfish decisions, kind of wreaking havoc on the community. But what we saw out of Cody and Charlie that day was the complete opposite. We saw selflessness, we saw really what a community should be — people who help their neighbors, defend their neighbors. I just want to express to you guys our gratitude.”

Injuries to victim.

The victim’s nephew, Michael Ashbaugh, described the woman’s injuries to UpNorth Live saying, “She has multiple fractures to her head, her eye sockets. I talked to her this morning. She actually had a broken foot as well. She got beat up pretty bad, lacerations. Her ear, it was pretty swollen up as well. And the swelling in her left eye there was concerned that she wouldn’t be able to see, but they actually have alleviated that concern. She went to the doctor and she does have her vision back.”

At this time, authorities have formally charged Zarling with nine counts of assault. His bond was set at $150,000 and a judge ordered a psychiatric evaluation. Court documents show Zarling has additional pending charges in South Carolina, including hindering an officer, resisting arrest, and trespassing.