COEUR d’ALENE — An elderly woman who was attacked at home last month is expected to die from her injuries, according to the Coeur d’Alene Police Department, meaning the ongoing investigation into an aggravated battery will likely soon become a homicide investigation.
Police responded Sept. 18 to 1197 W. Skyline Drive to reports of “an elderly woman who had been attacked while in bed.”
The woman, identified by police on Wednesday as 77-year-old Susan M. Stratton, sustained severe and life-threatening injuries in the attack. There was a “significant amount of blood at the scene,” according to a news release.
Stratton was transported to Kootenai Health, where police said she remained in critical condition and did not regain consciousness. She was moved to hospice care Tuesday, according to law enforcement, “after doctors concluded that all possible medical interventions had been exhausted.”
“Detectives remain actively engaged in the investigation and believe the assault was a deliberate, isolated act,” said a news release issued by the Coeur d’Alene Police Department.
Police have identified a person of interest and are seeking the community’s assistance in uncovering additional video footage of physical evidence.
Investigators are looking for anyone with surveillance video footage showing an adult riding a bicycle in the area between Clagstone Road and Highway 95 in Athol, continuing along Highway 95 and Pope Road/Government Way into Coeur d’Alene and through the area between Highway 95 and 15th Street to E. Hazel Avenue. The timeframe is between 8:55 p.m. Sept. 17 and 4:50 a.m. Sept. 18.
Detectives are also searching for an iPhone that may have been discarded somewhere along the route.
Anyone with information related to the case is encouraged to contact Det. Chris Schatz or Det. Jesse Welch at the Coeur d’Alene Police Department by calling 208.769.2320.