A 75-year-old woman lost sight in one eye after a random daytime attack in Seattle. Jeanette Marken walked near an intersection when a man came up behind her and hit her.
Police say Fale Vaigalepa Pea, 42, used a wooden board with nails. A nail or screw struck Marken’s face and damaged her right eye. Doctors told her family she will not regain vision, even after several surgeries.
Video shows the attacker strike Marken and knock her to the ground. A bystander snapped a photo of the suspect, then helped Marken. The bystander also pointed a deputy to the man. Officers arrested Pea nearby.
Body camera audio suggests officers knew him. One officer called him “notorious” for random assaults in the area.
Reports say Pea has a long record, dating back to 2011. Court and jail records list many arrests in recent years, including assaults and other crimes. KOMO also reported that many arrests this year did not lead to charges.
Police now charge Pea with:
- first-degree assault
Prosecutors say his history shows a danger to the public. He will stay in custody while the court reviews his competency later this month.
Marken’s son said the attack shocked his family. He also said the justice system failed to stop a repeat offender.
