ST. MARY'S, Ga. — A disabled St. Mary’s woman says she was attacked in her apartment after a woman came up to her door and smacked her with a tree branch.
Sarah Crase says she was in the middle of a work call Tuesday morning with about 20 of her coworkers when she heard a knock on her door.
“Unlocked the door, opened the door,” Crase said. “Next thing, ‘WHAM,’ right across my face on the right side.”
Crase says a blonde woman dressed in all black with a ski mask whacked her with a tree branch before forcing her way into the apartment.
“She got behind me and took both of her arms around my neck as tight as she could, choking me,” Crase said. “Next thing I know, I fall to the ground.”
Her coworkers told her they could hear her screaming throughout the attack, Crase says.
“I’m screaming for help, 911, ‘fire,’ anything to get someone’s attention.”
Finally, she says a maintenance worker stepped in and pulled the woman off her.
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Left behind from the attack was the ski mask, the branch Crase says was used to hit her, a trail of wood, and a long list of injuries.
“I can’t get rid of the headaches. I blink my eye, my eye hurts,” Crase said. “My 17-year-old had to give me a shower yesterday because I couldn’t even pick my arms up over my head. She had to wash my hair.”
Amanda Ruth Sage, 33, was arrested and charged with battery the same day.
Camden County Sheriff’s Office records show that she’s from Jacksonville and has a lengthy criminal record.
Crase says employees at her apartment complex told her that Sage had been staying with another resident, but isn’t technically a resident herself. They also told her she’s been trespassed from the property.
Still, Crase says she hasn’t felt safe since the attack, and that she’s constantly looking over her shoulder.
“I can’t even go outside to smoke a cigarette,” Crase said. “I can’t go check my mail. I can’t walk my dog… I’m afraid to be in this house by myself.”
Now, Crase wants to make sure Sage is charged with attempted murder, not just battery.
“The woman tried to kill me,” Crase said. “I keep seeing it over and over. I’m having nightmares at night now.”
Action News Jax reached out to the Camden County Sheriff’s Office to receive an up-to-date mugshot and learn if additional charges related to this attack are a possibility. We’re still waiting to hear back.
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