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Tillamook Beating May Be Random Attack

POSTED: 7:30 am PDT June 11, 2009
UPDATED: 3:34 pm PDT June 12, 2009

A woman who works as a 911 dispatcher was forced to make her own emergency call after a man invaded her home and attacked her Tuesday.

Suzanne Jones was attacked in her home near the intersection of 10th Street and Elm Avenue in Tillamook, a typically quiet town near the Oregon Coast.

"Tillamook just doesn't get these types of things that are that brutal," said neighbor Kathy Burns.

Jones had fallen asleep on her couch a little after midnight. She woke up to a man beating her with a blunt object, investigators said.

It's unclear why the man attacked her, but he eventually ran off, leaving Jones badly injured. She struggled to call for help.

Kelly Bieghler, a Tillamook County dispatcher, remembers receiving the call from her co-worker.

"When I answered the phone, the tone of her voice told me that it was something more," Bieghler said.

She said the voice on the other end was not only frantic, but familiar.

"She got off-duty a little before midnight and I relieved her and she went home," Bieghler said.

Bieghler said she knew immediately that Jones was in trouble.

Police said Jones suffered injuries to her head and torso and she was taken to Legacy Emanuel Hospital to be treated.

The attacker remains at large as neighbors struggle to understand the violent attack.

"She's such a nice lady and it's such a quiet neighborhood," Burns said.

Investigators said they've had difficulty finding any sort of motive. At this point, they said, it appears to be a random assault.

Anyone with information on the attack is asked to call the Tillamook Police Department.

Account set up for victim

An account to benefit Jones has been established at Wells Fargo bank. The account will help her with medical bills and loss of wages.

Anyone wishing to make a contribution may do so at any Wells Fargo Bank in the name of the "Suzanne Jones Donation Fund."

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