Elderly Beating Victim Improving, Police Ask Help

With no clues or suspects identified in the savage assault on an elderly El Cerrito woman 10 days ago, police would like to hear from anyone who may have seen the victim or seen anyone else in the vicinity on the morning of the attack.

The 81-year-old woman was found severely beaten and sexually assaulted in the Big O Tires parking lot on San Pablo Avenue around 9:15 a.m. Jan. 28, a Saturday. She was found by a store employee.

Police initially feared she would not live, but now she appears likely to survive, said Richmond police Sgt. Stina Johanson. (The store sits on the Richmond-El Cerrito border, with its building in Richmond and its sidewalk in El Cerrito.)

"Her condition improves every day," Johanson said Monday. "But it's not at a point yet where we can talk to her." Police are hopeful they can talk to her within a few days, Johanson said.

The relatively vigorous Asian woman, who resided in a nearby independent-living home, is believed to have gone out for her customary early morning walk sometime between 3:30 a.m. and 6 a.m., Johanson said. She was wearing a puffy white sports jacket and purple pants.

The morning she was found was chilly, and she showed signs of hypothermia, Johanson said. She was airlifted by medical helicopter to a local hospital.

Police are offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction who whoever was responsible for the attack.

Anyone who saw the woman that morning or anything else in the vicinity that might be helpful is asked to call Johanson at 510-620-6616 or the anonymous tip line at 510-232-TIPS (8477).

Those who wish to send messages, flowers or donations to the victim may do so in care of Sgt. Stina Johanson, Richmond Police Department, 1701 Regatta Blvd., Richmond, CA 94801, Johanson said.

The tire store at 10733 San Pablo Ave. sits on the El Cerrito-Richmond border, across the street from the Marshalls department store and near the intersection with Portola Avenue, about three blocks south of El Cerrito City Hall.

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