Man Charged with Vicious Assault on Elderly Woman in Downtown Seattle
A shocking video has surfaced showing a man viciously attacking an elderly woman with a wooden stick embedded with a metal screw in early December. The victim, Jeanette Marken, suffered a severe laceration to her face and is expected to lose vision in one eye permanently. The incident took place outside the King County Courthouse in downtown Seattle.
The suspect, Fale Vaigalepa Pea, 42, was swiftly apprehended by a King County Sheriff's Office deputy near the scene and has been charged with first-degree assault, with bail set at $1 million. The video footage captured the suspect striking Marken from behind with the weapon before walking away as bystanders rushed to help and called 911.
Marken's son described the brutal attack on a GoFundMe page, revealing the extent of her injuries, including multiple fractures in her face, skull, and nose, and the irreversible damage to her eye. Pea has a history of violent offenses, with previous convictions for assault and a reputation for random assaults in the area.
Pea's criminal record includes multiple assault charges, with convictions in 2020, 2023, and 2024, as well as a 2011 felony assault case. Despite numerous arrests, many incidents did not result in charges being filed. The King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office has pursued felony charges against Pea in all violent cases referred to them, seeking a lengthy sentence in the current assault case.
The office highlighted the seriousness of the current charges against Pea, including a deadly weapon enhancement, which could lead to an extended sentence if he is convicted. Prosecutors also requested electronic home monitoring if bail is posted. The Seattle City Attorney's Office handled Pea's misdemeanor assault cases, while the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office dealt with felony charges. Seattle officials have not commented on the case.