CLINTON, Md. — The 75-year-old survivor of a shocking attack in Camp Springs is speaking out from her hospital bed.
The assault on Elda Robinson was stunning in its viciousness – and terrifying how random it appeared.
Robinson was attacked and had her car stolen while walking into a carry out in Camp Springs on Wednesday night, in an assault that badly shook this community and its sense of safety.
Police say the alleged attacker, 30-year-old James Christopher Minor of Clinton, followed her from the parking lot into a carry out store just after 8 p.m., stabbed her, took her car keys, and stole her car.
"I have no idea what happened," Robinson told WUSA9 on Monday. "He punched me in the face and proceeded to knife me. And then when I fainted, I fell to the ground. I guess he took my car keys. He only had my car for a minute. It just doesn't make any sense. I got beat up for nothing. Maybe he was on drugs and he was delusional. He just did it randomly."
Robinson was taken to Capital Region Medical Center for surgery where she was listed as being in critical but stable condition. She had been stabbed in the arm, upper torso, neck and face. Robinson told WUSA9 that she's now in stable condition.
Minor was held without bond in court on Monday after his attorney waived his right to ask for bail.
Court documents obtained Monday shed some light onto how police arrested Minor.
It was Minor's family members who alerted police to the alleged attacker's identity after seeing him in surveillance photos in a report on the local news, according to documents filed in court.
The day after the stabbing, a detective went to the area of Natahala Drive and Tellico Place to canvass the neighborhood.
A homeowner in the area gave police surveillance video that court documents say showed Minor driving the victim's vehicle before parking it, getting out and running away.
While canvassing further, the detective saw who turned out to be Minor's family members who appeared to be trying to get Minor out of a house in the 9300 block of Tellico Place in Clinton. The detective wrote that family members kept making eye contact with him "as if they were trying to get my attention."
At some point, Minor's brother approached the detective in his Dodge Charger, got out, and told the detective that he'd seen a report on the stabbing and told the detective that it was his brother seen on surveillance, court documents show.
While the detective spoke with the suspect's brother, Minor got into the Dodge Charger and drove off, court documents show. The brother called 911 to report the stolen vehicle.
While the brother was on the phone with 911, Minor's mother approached the detective and let him know that her son, the alleged attacker, was already back inside the home in the 9300 block of Tellico Place.
After calling for backup, court documents show police made contact with Minor at the house and he was taken into custody without incident.