My wife was brutally attacked by a man who emerged from the shadows

The Attack

On Saturday, my wife while on her regular early morning walk on the High Line Canal Trail near our Aurora home was brutally attacked by a man who emerged from the shadows. He beat her with a large piece of wood leaving her laying and bleeding on the trail. Aurora Police and EMT personnel quickly arrived on the scene and she was taken to an Aurora hospital in serious condition. She is still being treated in the hospital and will face months of rehabilitation before her full recovery.

The Aurora Police Department after a wide search arrested the perpetrator and charged him with attempted murder for the brutal attack. The ADP Chief Wilson and Mayor Coffman have provided great support to my wife in victim services and their all-out effort to find and jail the man who attacked her. The community support for my wife from, not only friends, but the entire community has been overwhelming. Hundreds of sympathy emails and cards are very much appreciated by our family.

This attack is one of several incidents involving hikers and bikers on the trail. These increasingly violent incidents around area parks and trails in the metro area have brought to light the need for better security and to compassionately address the growing problem of homelessness in the region. My wife is a strong supporter not only for improved maintenance and expansion of Aurora’s trail system but, as a former Aurora City Councilmember, an advocate for addressing the housing and supportive services needs of the homeless population in Aurora.