SALT LAKE CITY — An 86-year-old woman was in "extremely critical condition" Friday after an assault allegedly committed by a man who is renting a room in her home.
Anne Smart-Pearce was in her bedroom in her home at 3025 S. 1100 East when the tenant went into her room around 6 a.m. and "assaulted her in a pretty dramatic way," said Lt. Don Hutson of the Unified Police Department.
He said the woman was beaten so severely that it is uncertain whether or not she will survive. He classified her condition as "extremely critical." She had already undergone one surgery by Friday afternoon.
Hutson said Arthel Martin, 45, was one of three male tenants renting a room in the woman's home. It is believed he moved into the house two weeks ago. The other tenants were home at the time of the attack.
"The other two guys heard the noise and the ruckus and went upstairs and witnessed him leaving the room," Hutson said. "They were shocked and just trying to figure out what to do."
Smart-Pearce's grandson, Adam Maddocks, said his grandmother has lived in the home for many years and ran a photography business out of it with her husband at some point. After she and her husband divorced, she remained in the home and eventually started renting out rooms.
Maddocks said his grandmother is a capable person and an avid writer who regularly wrote letters to local newspapers.
"She's with it," he said. "She's not one of those grandmas that doesn't know what's going on. She's got a good sense of humor."
He said that if the mother of eight survives, she will have substantial brain damage.
In the meantime, police are searching for the man who allegedly assaulted her. Martin is described as a light-skinned African-American male with an athletic build, Hutson said. Police say he is driving a dark green, 1995 Hyundai Sonata with the license plate number Z216MN.
"We're not looking for anyone else," Hutson said. "This is the suspect. We believe he is responsible, and we want to get him in custody."
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