A woman who had just moved to Los Angeles to start a new life, but cruelly became the victim of a rape while walking along the canals in Venice Beach, has died after being in a coma for almost two months.
Sarah Alden, 53, was declared brain dead earlier this week having been attacked on April 6, whilst walking along the banks of the famous canals in Southern California.
Alden, who was the mother of two sons, was subjected to the most horrific attack that left her brutally raped and assaulted hours after moving into her apartment to begin a new life.
She was not the only woman attacked that night – Mary Klein, 54, was the attacker’s second victim.
Sarah Alden, 53, was brutally assaulted in Venice and taken off life support after two months
Sarah Alden, 53, was brutally assaulted in Venice and taken off life support after two months
She too was sexually assaulted and left with serious injuries to her body and face believing that she was about to be killed.
The suspect, thought to be a homeless man, Anthony Francisco Jones, 29, was arrested by police on April 11 for the assaults. Police confirmed that both attacks had a ‘sexual element’ to them.
‘The level of brutality that was engaged in was very reprehensible,’ said L.A. County District Attorney George Gascón.
Venice Beach was supposed to be a dream, but it turned into a nightmare for the victims of these horrific crimes
Jones was seen on surveillance footage carrying a bottle of liquor as he walked close to the canals.
It’s believed the bottle he was carrying was also used in the attack which came just as Alden had moved from Massachusetts to California to start a new life.
Earlier in the day before the attack she had signed a lease for an apartment in Venice and was planning to surprise friends at a brunch the following day, when the brutal assault suddenly cut those plans short in an attack that would ultimately end her life.
Following the attack she was left for dead and remained in a coma until the end of her life after sustaining a number of brain injuries.
Police say Anthony Francisco Jones, 29, was seen on surveillance video stalking the area where both attacks took place
Police arrested Jones, who is homeless, on April 11 after he allegedly attacked Klein and Alden within an hour of each other
She was surrounded by friends and family at hospital as doctors finally took her off life support. Her organs will be donated to help save the lives of others.
‘She was a lover of sunrises on the east coast and sunsets on the west coast. Sarah adored her two sons, her animals, and was blessed with a refined eye for vintage jewelry,’ a tribute to Alden reads.
Earlier in the day before the attack Sarah Alden had signed a lease for an apartment in Venice Beach and was planning to surprise friends the following day
Alden was surrounded by friends and family at hospital as doctors finally took her off life support. Her organs will be donated to help save the lives of others
Jones has been charged with forcible rape, torture, attempted murder, mayhem, sexual penetration by use of force and sodomy by use of force.
‘Our hearts and deepest sympathies go out to the victim’s family and friends during this unimaginably difficult time,’ said the DA’s office. ‘Our office is evaluating how we will proceed to ensure the defendant is held fully accountable for his conduct.’
‘It’s very sudden and shocking,’ said Cynthia King, Alden’s friend to KTLA. ‘She was extremely intelligent, well-educated and witty. She was stolen from us. I feel like I’m in an alternate reality. This isn’t even real.’
A GoFundMe to help Alden’s family with medical and funeral expenses has so far raised $24,000.
A second woman, Mary Klein, 54, was also brutally attacked on April 6 while walking near her home, leaving her with a fractured jaw, missing teeth and extensive bruising across her face
Klein was a caregiver for an elderly woman with ALS and a soon-to-be grandmother
Klein, 54, the second woman who was attacked, says she barely remembers the vicious assault which left her with a fractured jaw, missing teeth and extensive bruising across her face and chest.
‘It was like being hit by a truck,’ she told KTLA. ‘My teeth got knocked out. My jaw is wired shut. He bashed my face in… I think he was trying to kill me.’
Klein, a single mother, said she was knocked down out of the blue while walking home at around 10:30pm.
‘All of a sudden, I just get knocked out,’ she said from her hospital bed.
She said she thought her attacker was ‘trying to kill’ her, as she was ruthlessly beaten across her head and torso.
Her injuries include a fractured jaw, broken teeth, multiple contusions and a large gash on the back of her head.
Klein (seen before the attack left) suffered extensive injuries, which saw her jaw wired shut for at least a month
The single mother had several of her teeth knocked out during the attack
A professional home healthcare nurse for an elderly woman with ALS and soon-to-be grandmother, Klein faces a lengthy road to recovery that will require multiple surgeries.
A GoFundMe set up after the attack which has so far raised $100,000 also notes that Klein’s health insurance dropped her on March 31, just a week before the attack, and she was in the middle of getting California Coverage when the assault took place.
Klein’s son Robert added that while he was glad to see an arrest was made, he questioned why such a ‘predator’ was able to walk the streets freely.
‘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.’
Klein was attacked while walking near her home, as her son said: ‘I want predators and violent attackers to be held accountable, have longer sentences and just not be out on the streets’
Klein said she hopes her attacker is sentenced to prison for life, and hoped local officials would prioritize tackling homelessness and drug abuse in Southern California.
In the GoFundMe to help Klein with her medical costs, it notes that the fundraising goal was increased to cover ‘additional facial reconstruction’ and a home security system.
‘It’s doubtful she will be able to return to work for at least 6-8 weeks and she’s so worried about losing her small rental in Venice where she and her cat have resided for years,’ the fundraiser states.
‘Many may know her for the wonderful sand art she builds in Venice for all the events.’