Authorities in Seattle have intensified their search for a suspect accused of assaulting and robbing an 88-year-old woman in what police describe as one of the city’s most disturbing home-invasion cases in recent months.

The attack left the victim, Emma Cotton, without a finger and with multiple injuries.

Cotton was assaulted in mid-October at her Rainier Beach home, and for the first time, she is publicly recounting the incident as police deepen their investigation and appeal for public assistance.

Legal analysts following the case say the yet-unidentified suspect could face a long list of felony charges once arrested, including:

Under Washington state law, assault involving permanent disfigurement, injury to a vulnerable adult, or the use of extreme force significantly elevates penalties. Prosecutors could also seek an “exceptional sentence” due to the brutality of the attack and the age of the victim.

Cotton says she was working outside her home when the suspect grabbed her from behind and beat her repeatedly. She suffered fractured ribs and a head injury. The suspect forcibly removed her jewelry and, during the struggle, bit her finger in order to take a ring.

The violent nature of the act, investigators say, demonstrates intent to inflict serious harm—one of the legal thresholds for the highest degrees of assault and robbery in Washington state.

After fleeing, the suspect was captured on neighborhood surveillance cameras walking in the area. He is described as a man in his thirties, but police have not yet released a name or identified a person of interest.

Seattle Police Department detectives have released video stills and are urging anyone with information to come forward. A $1,000 reward is being offered through Crime Stoppers for tips that lead to an arrest and conviction.

Authorities believe the suspect may have injuries to his face or hands, based on Cotton’s account that she scratched him multiple times while fighting back.

Cotton’s family is calling for swift justice, stating that the attack raises broader concerns about safety for elderly residents.

“This is someone’s grandmother, someone’s mother,”relatives said in a statement to local media.“Our priority now is ensuring she gets justice and ensuring this man cannot harm another person.”

While the legal system prepares for what could be a complex prosecution once the suspect is found, Cotton says she is focused on healing and maintaining her independence. She is set to receive a prosthetic finger and continues to attend church and engage in her normal activities.

Remarkably, she has expressed forgiveness toward her attacker, though she hopes the legal system ultimately holds him accountable.

“I just want him to clean his life up,”she said.“But what he did was wrong, and he shouldn’t hurt anyone else.”

The severity of the attack, the age of the victim, and the legal implications have drawn national and international attention.

Advocates for seniors say the case highlights an urgent need for stronger protections for older adults living alone—an issue relevant to communities worldwide.