Shawn Patrick O’Bryan pleaded guilty Thursday for the July 16, 2012, attempted murder of Shannon Wrench, according to court records. 
O’Bryan, 39, was sentenced to 15 years in prison and five years of probation following his prison release for attempted first degree murder during a pre-trial Thursday. 
Wrench, 35, was found unresponsive and badly beaten in weeds alongside 153rd Road North in Suwannee County on July 16, 2012. She was discovered wearing cut off blue jean shorts and a grateful dead t-shirt with no shoes.

“I’m glad it’s finally over,” Wrench told the Democrat during a phone call on Monday. “I don’t think he got what he deserved, but I’m satisfied with the result.”
For three weeks and a day, Wrench was in a medically induced coma in a Gainesville hospital, suffering from multiple skull fractures, and major cuts and bruises. Wrench started showing vast signs of improvement. She awoke from the coma on Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012.

Just three days later on Friday, Aug. 10, 2012, O’Bryan, 646 St. Andrews Circle, Rantoul, Ill., was arrested by the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office out of Illinois for attempted first degree murder. O’Bryan was transferred and booked into the Suwannee County Jail on Aug. 20, 2012.

Wrench’s mother told the story of how she received the dreadful news of her daughter being found in July 2012..

“They called about a quarter after nine and asked if I was Shannon Wrench’s mom. I told them I was and they asked me to call the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office, so I did,” Kathleen Bateman said. “That’s when Sgt. Chris Fry told me my daughter was in a hospital in Gainesville and she had been in a coma since the 16th day of July and they didn’t know who she was.”

Bateman made her way to Gainesville where Wrench was receiving medical treatment. Wrench was first admitted to Shands Gainesville for treatment. She remained there until Aug. 27, 2012, and then was transferred to Signature Health Care in Gainesville for physical, occupational and speech therapy. She was discharged on Sept. 15 to go home.

The sentencing comes after the case remained in the court system for nearly a year. O’Bryan was previously scheduled for trial on Jan. 28 to Feb. 1, 2013, however, O’Bryan’s attorney was awarded a continuance during his pre-trial. On July 11, O’Bryan was scheduled for another pre-trial, but this time he accepted a plea bargain and was sentenced.

On Thursday, Wrench was told by a secretary at the Third Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office O’Bryan had accepted the plea bargain.

“The defense attorney originally offered 10 years in prison and 10 years of probation, but we didn’t feel that was enough time behind bars,” Bateman said. “We counter offered 15 years in prison with five years of probation so he could be monitored after his release, and Shawn accepted that.”

Bateman continued, “We had no problem returning to Florida for trial, but we didn’t want him to be found guilty on a lesser charge, which would always be a possibility with a jury trial. We did not want that possibility; we wanted him guilty of attempted first degree murder.”

“Now that the legal part is over, it’s a sigh of relief for us. Most importantly, we’re glad society will be protected from him,” Bateman said.

Wrench said she is doing well and continues on the road to recovery.

“I’m doing pretty good,” Wrench said. “I just started with a program that will help me with school and job training. I’m just exploring my options.”

Regarding Wrench’s health concerns, Bateman said her daughter has more good days than bad now, although there are some physical effects from the incident she still battles.

“We can finally move on with life and put this behind us. Shannon can close that portion of her life and move on,” Bateman said.