Neighbors help stop woman's attacker

DETROIT – A woman who was grabbed from her front porch at knifepoint, dragged away and sexually assaulted is sharing her story.

the disturbing crime happened on Indiana Street near Wyoming and Puritan.

Her attacker is now off the streets because of quick thinking neighbors. Krystale Cooley said it's a miracle she's alive.

"Somebody in a make and a knife jumped on my porch and came and grabbed me," she said.

Cooley said the man pulled her across the street behind an abandoned home and took $11 she had.

"He told me to get on all fours, took the knife and cut the back of my pants open."

Cooley's godmother saw her being dragged, chased after the attacker but she fell & broke her foot. She was screaming for help and could hear Cooley screaming.

"Someway, somehow, by the grace of God, I was able to get free from him and I just started running toward whatever light I saw," Cooley said.

Neighbors heard the commotion, called police, gave a description of the attacker and cops tracked him down.

"All I can say is thank you for being outside, for being alert and being aware, because that is not right what happened," Cooley said. "I'm not going to let this situation break me, and I'm not going to feel like a victim because I am a survivor."


About the Author:

Hank Winchester is Local 4’s Consumer Investigative Reporter and the head of WDIV’s “Help Me Hank” Consumer Unit. Hank works to solve consumer complaints, reveal important recalls and track down thieves who have ripped off people in our community.