SEATTLE — An 88-year-old woman is recovering from a brutal robbery that left her seriously injured, prompting her family to advocate for justice. Emma Cotton was attacked in her Rainier Beach neighborhood while engaged in routine chores on her back porch on Oct. 13. The assailant, who remains unidentified, struck her from behind and has been evading authorities for more than three weeks.
According to her son, Ricky Stuart Cotton, the encounter became immediately violent as Cotton felt someone breathing unexpectedly close to her. Once she turned around, she was subjected to a relentless assault. “He just started punching her,” Ricky said, recounting his mother’s harrowing experience.
The elderly woman sustained multiple injuries, including fractured ribs, during the assault. When her attacker demanded her jewelry, Cotton attempted to comply. “She offered to take it off herself,” her son Marvin Charles Cotton recalled. However, the situation escalated, resulting in the suspect dragging her into her garage and biting off one of her fingers to steal her ring.
Marvin Cotton expressed his disgust at the heinous nature of the crime. “Can you imagine, 88 years old? To see someone take advantage of her like that is infuriating,” he said. The incident was captured on surveillance cameras, which detectives are reviewing in their search for the suspect.
First responders rushed Emma Cotton to a nearby hospital, where her sons were shocked by the extent of her injuries. “To see my mom’s finger bitten off and her still being calm, it almost made me faint,” Ricky added, highlighting the strength she exhibited despite her ordeal.
The three siblings, Marvin, Ricky, and Wes, who lives out of state, are united in their plea for justice. “We want this person off the streets to prevent another family from going through the same nightmare,” Wes said.
Despite the brutality of the attack, Emma Cotton demonstrated remarkable resilience during her encounter with the assailant. “She fought back—scratched, kicked, did everything she could,” Marvin said, underscoring his mother’s bravery.
Known for her commitment to community service, Emma Cotton leads the senior ministry at Mount Zion Baptist Church. Her sons have noted her unwavering spirit throughout her recovery in a medical facility. “There has to be something spiritual about her survival,” Ricky commented, acknowledging her tenacity.
The siblings have expressed immense pride in their mother. Marvin Cotton summarized her strength, saying, “She was always my hero, but after this, she’s my superhero.”
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the attack to reach out to the Seattle Police Department’s Violent Crimes Tip Line at 206-233-5000, emphasizing the community’s role in bringing the suspect to justice.