A girl remembers the terrifying second she was practically crushed to dying by an attacker whereas strolling alongside the canals of Venice, California.
On April 6, the sufferer, Mary Klein, 54, was strolling close to her dwelling at round 10:30 p.m. when a person all of the sudden attacked her from behind.
“All of a sudden, I just get knocked out,” Mary informed KTLA’s Chris Wolfe as she recovered in a hospital mattress. “My teeth got knocked out. My jaw is wired shut. He bashed my face in.”
Mary mentioned the brunt drive of the assault knocked her into an prompt daze. She solely remembers falling to the bottom and being bludgeoned because the suspect repeatedly punched her within the head and face.
“I think he was trying to kill me,” she mentioned. “It was like being hit by a truck.”
The brutal assault left Mary with extreme accidents together with fractures to her jaw, damaged enamel, a big gash on the again of her head and a number of contusions. Her face and chest are severely bruised and swollen and he or she faces a protracted highway to restoration forward.
Mary Klein, seen with extreme accidents and bruising, speaks to KTLA from her hospital mattress on April 12, 2024. (KTLA)The suspect, Anthony Jones, 29, seen strolling across the Venice canals space on April 6, 2024.The suspect, Anthony Jones, 29, seen strolling across the Venice canals space on April 6, 2024.The Venice Canals are seen on April 9, 2024. (KTLA)Blood stains seen on the again porch of a Venice resident’s dwelling after a lady was violently assaulted. (KTLA)Mary Klein, 54, is seen in a photograph posted on GoFundMe. The suspect within the Venice canal assaults is seen on a Ring safety digicam video on April 6, 2024. (Viewer video)Mary Klein, 54, suffered fractures to her jaw, damaged enamel, a big gash on the again of her head and a number of contusions within the April 6, 2024 assault. (GoFundMe)Mary Klein, 54, is seen in a photograph posted on a GoFundMe marketing campaign. (GoFundMe)
Mary is a single mom, dwelling healthcare nurse, a soon-to-be grandmother and a neighborhood artist.
Family members mentioned she would require many surgical procedures and can want psychological well being assist and steerage together with bodily remedy. As a result of Mary works as a full-time caregiver to an aged lady with ALS, she hopes to get well as quickly as attainable.
Mary was considered one of two ladies who had been attacked alongside the Venice canals on April 6. A second lady, who was not but recognized, is presently in a coma.
On Friday, April 12, police confirmed the suspect, Anthony Jones, 29, was arrested late Thursday night time in San Diego. Police described Jones as a Black man standing round 6 toes 1 inch tall and weighing about 200 kilos. He’s additionally believed to be a transient.
Within the first assault on April 6, police mentioned the person approached a lady from behind within the 2700 block of Strongs Drive close to the Grand Canal and struck her within the head with a tough object, knocking her unconscious.
Within the second assault, which occurred about an hour later, police mentioned the identical man assaulted a lady who was strolling close to the Sherman Canal.
Police confirmed that each assaults had a “sexual element” to them. Jones was captured on surveillance footage strolling close to the canals that night time.
Mary mentioned she was relieved to listen to of the suspect’s arrest and hopes it should stop extra harmless victims from being harmed.
“I was crying because I was so worried about the other girl [victim] and I hope she makes it,” Mary mentioned tearfully. “I’m lucky I survived and I feel so sad for her and I hope she’s okay.”
Mary’s son, Robert Klein, mentioned he’s grateful his mom is alive and hopes the suspect can be punished severely.
“I want predators and violent attackers to be held accountable, have longer sentences and just not be out on the streets with our family members,” he mentioned.
Mary mentioned she is extremely grateful to the Los Angeles Police Division for his or her work on this case, calling them “warriors” who’re defending the neighborhood. She mentioned she is particularly grateful to Lesley Perkins and Asia Hodge because the investigators who helped catch the attacker.
Though she has no hate in her soul for the suspect, she believes he ought to be sentenced to jail for all times. Mary additionally desires native officers to prioritize tackling psychological well being points, drug abuse and homelessness in Southern California.
The suspect was booked into the LAPD Metropolitan Detention Heart on two counts of tried homicide. He’s being held on $3.25 million.
A GoFundMe web page created to assist Mary with medical bills could be discovered right here.
Police mentioned the case would quickly be introduced to the L.A. County District Lawyer’s Workplace.
Following the assaults, LAPD mentioned it might be rising patrols across the Venice canals.
#Lady #remembers #crushed #dying #Venice #canal #attacker
