The woman who was stabbed while walking along Five-Mile Drive at Point Defiance Park two weeks ago said Wednesday her assailant intended to kill her.
The woman spoke publicly for the first time at Tacoma Police Department headquarters, where she detailed the attack on Feb. 10 which left her with multiple lacerations and wounds. The woman is being referred to as "Jane" in order to protect her privacy as she is concerned for her safety because the assailant is still at large, Tacoma Police Department spokesman detective William Muse said at a press conference.
Muse said police ask that if anyone recognizes Jane from press conference footage, that they do not comment on her legitimate identity.
Just before 1 p.m., Jane said she was walking at the Point Defiance Park, which she has often done by herself. The park was filled with visitors as she walked on the Blue Trail. At one point, she saw a man walking on the trail. She then heard someone walk up behind her, and she turned around to see the man.
Jane said she offered to let him pass her, but he smiled and said, "No, I'm good, thanks." She said he looked like a normal guy, and she smiled back.
Jane said she moved to the other side of the 6-foot wide trail. Once she turned her back to him, she heard footsteps coming up behind her much faster. Then she felt a blow to her head.
"I immediately started screaming for help that I was being attacked as blow after blow struck my head, in the back of my neck and my shoulders," she said. "My eyes were clouded by the blood pouring down my face as I tried to fight back and run. I screamed more but didn't hear anyone reply and realized I was all alone in this part of the trail."
Jane said the man knocked her to the ground and pinned down her legs and arms. When she saw the knife, she said to him she would give him money or anything he wanted so she could live. The man allegedly then made it verbally explicit that his intent was to kill her.
"He told me to tilt my neck back so he could end my pain," Jane said. "I used my hands to try and shield my face and neck from the knife."
Jane said he did cut her neck near the carotid artery, but he missed.
"I thank God every day that he missed. I continued screaming that this man was trying to kill me until I finally heard someone yell back 'Is everything all right?' To which I again screamed for help," she said.
A woman and a man, as well as another couple, responded to Jane's screams. The woman told the man not to kill her and tried to get the attention off her. When he turned back to go for her neck again, the woman kicked the assailant in the head and knocked him off, Jane said.
Jane said she laid on the ground while the woman and another bystander kept pressure on her wounds as they waited for emergency personnel.
"The two women kept pressure on my head and reassured me that I was not going to die," she said.
TPD detective Jennifer Quilio said a woman who helped Jane was a medical professional and provided life-saving measures.
"The woman who came to my rescue and kicked the man in the head saw he had a knife. She knew it was risky and still intervened. Later, she told me that she would kick 100 guys in the head to save my life," Jane said.
After the attack, the man ran off toward the Owen Beach parking lot. Witnesses who intervened lost sight of him.
Quilio said Point Defiance Park closed that afternoon. Metro Parks Tacoma announced later that night that the park would open the next day on its normal schedule.
Jane said it was shocking to find out the park reopened even thought the alleged suspect was still at large.
Jane said she still struggles with breathing normally. She said she has more than 120 staples in her skull, neck and upper back. She said she used to be physically active, but sitting up, sleeping and walking around the house causes her pain.
She said that when she on the ground trying to fight the man off, she kept thinking that this could not be how she died.
"And I just kept thinking of all my loved ones that I would never see again. I was one wrong move from being killed."
Jane said she used to be a trusting person, but now anytime she sees a man walking alone, she freezes. She said she has only left her house for medical appointments and even then she is terrified.
On Sunday, TPD shared a character sketch of the man who allegedly attacked Jane. The man is thought to be in his 20s or 30s. He has a thin build and stands about 5-foot-8. The man was last seen wearing dark clothing.
The knife used in the attack has not been recovered. Detectives have spoken to numerous witnesses who were at the park that day. They need more people to come forward, Quilio said.
Quilio said police believe there is a risk that the man who attacked Jane could do it again. Tacoma police has increased patrols in the Point Defiance Park area since the attack occurred.
