Friends and family mourn victims of Venice canal attack – NBC Los Angeles

After the man accused of attacking two women in the canals of Venice was charged with murder following the death of one of the victims, friends and family of the deceased were still faced with anger and shock on Wednesday.

Sarah Alden, 53, died last Friday after she was taken off life support. Police said Alden was attacked and sexually assaulted by Anthony Jones while walking along the canals.

One of Alden’s friends said the assault victim, who owned a home in Massachusetts, moved to Venice and signed a lease on her “dream.”

“I can’t breathe. I’m in shock. I still feel like I’m going to see her next week,” said Cynthia King, one of Alden’s best friends. “Our dream was always to be here together. In the end, it finally happened.”

But just weeks after arriving in Southern California, Alden was attacked and sexually assaulted while walking along the canals in early April.

“It happened in a flash,” King said. “One moment I’m talking to her, and we’re talking about brunch the next day … and the next moment she’s just gone.”

Another woman who was physically and sexually assaulted at the canals has now returned home after treatment.

Mary Klein, who was attacked an hour after Alden was struck by the suspect, suffered a traumatic brain injury in which her entire face was “bashed in.”

“I have about five plates and a bunch of screws in my face,” said Klein, 54, adding that she hoped the suspect would go to prison for life. “As for him, I know the law will take care of him. We don’t have to worry about him running around the canals anytime soon.”

Klein added that she hoped authorities would do more to keep dangerous people off the streets.

“It’s kind of a shame that someone has to die to show that LA needs to prosecute dangerous people.”