TOTAL ATTACKS: 2

JANUARY

Richmond, California

Homeless Woman Severely Beaten and Possibly Raped

January 29: Ruth Ashley, a 49 year-old homeless woman, was found badly beaten and left for dead on the sidewalk.  Ruth was semi-unconscious and was found with her pants down, leading investigators to believe she may have also been raped.

Ruth had to undergo surgery to remove her spleen with doctors reporting to the San Francisco Chronicle that her, “internal injuries are massive and life-threatening.” Sgt. Mitch Peixoto revealed to the same source that she “suffered numerous facial fractures and was beaten so badly that her eyes were swollen shut.”

Investigators also said that it appears that she was beaten by someone’s bare hands, feet, and maybe a stick.

OCTOBER

St. Petersburg, Florida

Sheriff’s Deputies Halt Assault on Homeless Woman 

October 10: Alan A. Martin, 27, was apprehended as he sexually assaulted a 68-year-old homeless woman. Pinellas County sheriff’s deputies were already watching Martin as a suspect in two unsolved burglaries in Clearwater and Dunedin. That night, Martin attempted to rob an apartment next to his, but fled when residents saw him. Deputies followed, and caught him later as he assaulted the homeless woman.