Woman recalls being almost beaten to death by Venice canal attacker

A woman recalls the terrifying moment she was nearly beaten to death by an attacker while walking along the canals of Venice, California.

On April 6, the victim, Mary Klein, 54, was walking near her home around 10:30 p.m. when a man suddenly ambushed her from behind.

“All of a sudden I’m knocked out,” Mary told KTLA’s Chris Wolfe as she recovered in a hospital bed. “My teeth were knocked out. My jaw is closed. He hit my face.

Mary said the brutal force immediately stunned her. She only remembers falling to the ground and being bludgeoned as the suspect repeatedly punched her in the head and face.

“I think he was trying to kill me,” she said. “It felt like I was hit by a truck.”

The brutal attack left Mary with serious injuries including broken jaws, broken teeth, a large gash to the back of her head and multiple bruises. Her face and chest are badly bruised and swollen and she has a long road to recovery.

Mary is a single mother, home health nurse, soon-to-be grandmother, and local artist.

Her loved ones said she would require numerous surgeries and would need mental health support and counseling as well as physical therapy. Because Mary works as a full-time caregiver to an elderly woman with ALS, she hopes to recover as quickly as possible.

Mary was one of two women attacked along the canals of Venice on April 6. A second woman, who has not yet been identified, is currently in a coma.

On Friday, April 12, police confirmed that the suspect, Anthony Jones, 29, was arrested Thursday evening in San Diego. Police described Jones as a black man, approximately 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing approximately 200 pounds. He is also believed to be passing through.

In the first attack, on April 6, police said the man approached a woman from behind in the 2700 block of Strongs Drive, near the Grand Canal, and punched her in the head with a hard object, causing her to lose consciousness.

In the second attack, which occurred about an hour later, police said the same man attacked a woman who was walking near the Sherman Canal.

Police confirmed both attacks had a “sexual element”. Jones was captured on surveillance footage walking near the canals that night.

Mary said she was relieved to learn of the suspect’s arrest and hopes it will prevent more innocent victims from being harmed.

“I was crying because I was very worried about the other girl (victim) and I hope she pulls through,” Mary said through tears. “I’m lucky I survived and I feel so sad for her and hope she’s okay.”

Mary’s son, Robert Klein, said he is grateful his mother is alive and hopes the suspect will be severely punished.

“I want predators and violent abusers to be held accountable, get longer sentences and just not be on the streets with our family members,” he said.

Mary said she is incredibly grateful to the LAPD for their work in this case, calling them “warriors” who protect the community. She said she was especially grateful to Lesley Perkins and Asia Hodge, the investigators who helped arrest the attacker.

Even though she has no hatred in her soul towards the suspect, she believes that he should be sentenced to life in prison. Mary also wants local officials to prioritize addressing mental health issues, substance abuse and homelessness in Southern California.

The suspect was booked into the LAPD Metropolitan Detention Center on two counts of attempted murder. He is being held on $3.25 million.

A GoFundMe page set up to help Mary with her medical expenses can be found here.

Police said the case will soon be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

Following the attacks, the LAPD announced it would increase patrols around Venice’s canals.

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