Sexual assault survivor from Kent believes she would have died if she hadn't fought back

KENT, Wash. – “Hay noches que no poder mi despierto y meda miedo,” Nora said nearly two weeks after her attack.

In her own words, she said that there are nights when she cannot sleep and is afraid.

Nora didn't feel comfortable revealing her last name publicly after what happened to her in Kent on the morning of September 15.

Nora told KING 5 she didn't have the strength to leave her house on her own.

As she walked alone on Central Avenue in Kent, she was violently attacked from behind, dragged into the bushes and sexually assaulted, according to police. Court documents say the suspect, Troy Walton, 26, admitted to the crime.

Walton was charged with first-degree kidnapping, first-degree attempted rape, second-degree sexually motivated assault and indecent liberties.

Nora's friend Rogelio helped translate what happened during her attack.

“During, you know, throughout the whole fight, he can, she can feel him pulling down her pants and trying to pull up her shirt, and all she can remember is hearing her mother's ringtone as she tried to to call her back, but he kept turning it off and basically told her to shut up and strangle her and started trying to strangle her to shut her up,” Rogelio said.

Court documents say Walton repeatedly beat and strangled Nora until she lost consciousness.

“As he used both hands, she said, after a while she felt both hands go limp and then she passed out,” Rogelio said.

Somehow Nora woke up and decided that now was the time to fight back. Nora bit her attacker and ran away to seek help.

The next day, investigators from the Major Crimes Unit, Homicide and Violent Crimes Unit and Special Assault Unit were able to find surveillance video that showed clear images of the suspect. They shared these images with patrol officers.

On September 17, a Crime Reduction Unit sergeant was assigned to search for the suspect. With the help of investigators and patrol teams, Walton was located near the Kent Transit Center wearing the same clothing and shoes he wore during the attack. He was arrested within 20 minutes and gave a full confession to investigators during an interview.

During his confession, he told investigators that he “intended to rape the victim,” according to charging documents.

According to prosecutors, Walton was on probation at the time of the alleged attack. He previously pleaded guilty to fourth-degree sexual battery on August 12. He spent 10 days in jail and was released on August 20.

Charging documents say that while Walton has a “limited criminal history,” his violent behavior appeared to escalate.

When investigators asked the defendant if he felt sorry for his actions, he replied, “No.”

Nora says she never thought she would be a victim of sexual assault. Before coming to the United States, she was with the Mexican police for several years, helping victims of similar crimes.

“Her experience on this site, I think, helped her a lot in surviving something like this here,” Rogelio said.

“I think Dios gave us a second chance,” Nora said. In English it means: “I believe God always gives us a second chance.”

Nora hopes that she will recover soon and be able to work with her family members again. She came to the United States to care for her family and children in Mexico.

“When the second opportunity to help yourself comes along, you take it,” Rogelio added.

Walton is scheduled to appear in the King County courtroom on Oct. 3 for arraignment.