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Kent sexual assault survivor believes if she didn't fight back, she would have died

Kent police say Nora was violently attacked on the morning of Sept. 15 near Kent Memorial Park and officers say the suspect admitted to the crime.

KENT, Wash. — "Hay noches que no poder mi despierto y meda miedo," said Nora nearly two weeks after her attack. 

In her own words, she said there are nights when she can't sleep and she's scared.

Nora did not feel comfortable sharing her last name publicly after what happened to her on the morning of Sept. 15 in Kent. 

Nora told KING 5 she doesn't have the strength to leave her house alone.

When she was alone, walking on Central Avenue in Kent, police say she was violently attacked from behind, dragged into the bushes and sexually assaulted. Court documents say the suspect, Troy Walton, 26, admitted to the crime.

Walton was charged with first-degree kidnapping, first-degree attempted rape, second-degree assault with sexual motivation and indecent liberties.

Nora's boyfriend, Rogelio, helped translate what happened during her attack. 

"During, you know, the whole struggle, he can, she can feel him pulling down on her pants, trying to lift up her shirt, and she can, all she can remember is hearing the ringtone of her mom, trying to call her back, but he just kept turning it off and pretty much telling her to shut up and strangle and started trying to strangle her to, you know, keep her quiet," Rogelio said. 

Court documents show Walton punched Nora repeatedly and strangled her until she became unconscious.

"When he was using both hands, she said, after a while, she just felt her both her hands just go limp, and that's when she passed out," Rogelio said. 

Somehow, Nora woke up and she decided that was her moment to fight back. Nora bit her attacker and ran away to seek help. 

The next day, detectives from the Major Crimes Unit, Homicide and Violent Crimes Unit and Special Assault Unit were able to find surveillance video that showed clear images of the suspect. They shared these pictures with patrol officers. 

On Sept. 17, a sergeant with the Crime Reduction Unit was asked to search for the suspect. With help from investigators and patrol teams, Walton was located near the Kent Transit Center wearing the same clothes and shoes as he had on during the attack. He was arrested within 20 minutes and, during an interview, gave a full confession to detectives.

During his confession, he told detectives he "intended on raping the victim," according to charging documents.

Walton was on probation at the time of the alleged attack, prosecutors note. He previously pleaded guilty on Aug. 12 to fourth-degree assault with sexual motivation. He spent 10 days in jail and was released on Aug. 20.

It's noted in charging documents that although Walton has a "limited criminal history, his violent behavior appears to be escalating." 

When the detectives asked the defendant if he felt bad for his actions, he responded, "No."

Nora says she never thought she would become a victim of sexual assault. Before coming to the U.S., she was on the Mexican police force for several years, helping victims of similar crimes.

"Her experience, you know, in that side, I think, helped her a lot in surviving something like this here," Rogelio said. 

"Yo creo que Dios siempre nos a una secondo oportunidad," Nora said. In English, that means, "I believe God always gives us a second chance."

Nora is hoping she can soon heal and return to work with her family members. She came to the U.S. to provide for her family and her children, who are in Mexico. 

"When that second opportunity comes, that to help yourself, you take it," Rogelio added. 

Walton is set to appear in a King County courtroom Oct. 3 for an arraignment. 

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