Nineteen-year-old Jessica Vasquez Arrested in Beating of Eighty-One-Year-Old Woman

May 05, 2008

"I guess I was born, naturally born, born bad. Born bad, it's such as sin . . . I'll never be the same again. I'm naturally born to be, bad as a girl can be. . . ."

When I read the initial report on today's case, it reminded me of those lyrics, which were sung by actress Juliette Lewis in the Oliver Stone film Natural Born Killers. While this case does not come close to the measure of crimes committed by Juliette's fictional character, Mallory Knox, they seem to share a similar attitude.

April 30th started out as a typical day for 81-year-old Indianapolis resident Evelyn Page (photo here), who, along with three young children--perhaps grandchildren, police have yet to specify--got into her car and headed out for a trip to the local drug store. Unfortunately for Evelyn, her day quickly took a very dramatic and ultimately painful twist.

Shortly after turning onto South Meridian Street, Evelyn was surprised when another vehicle, driven by 19-year-old Jessica Vasquez, swerved in front of her and forced her to bring her vehicle to a stop.

"She said I was going too slow," Evelyn later said in an interview with WTHR.com. "She said, 'You put me in jeopardy' because she had to stop real quick. I thought she was just going to get out and bawl me out, but she reached in and popped me a good one. I imagine she's been eating spinach. I saw stars."

When Evelyn attempted to get out of her car to seek help, Vasquez continued to assault the stunned grandmother.

"She either shoved me or hit me and I fell backwards, and I landed on my rear and my leg was underneath me, and it crunched and--oh--I tried to get up, and I could tell them bones were touching [and] I knew I couldn't."

Onlookers rushed to help Evelyn, left lying in the median, as Vasquez sped off in her car. After paramedics arrived on the scene, Evelyn was transported to a local hospital, where doctors discovered her leg was broken in 14 places. As a result of her injuries, doctors had to perform replacement surgery on her left knee.

The granny-beater might have managed a clean getaway were it not for a Good Samaritan who had managed to jot down her license plate number. Police later used that number to track Vasquez down and...

Continue Reading About Jessica Vasquez's Road Rage

Photo Courtesy of Indianapolis Police Department

Comments

[boo]

I can't believe this girl!!! I hope they throw the book at her!!!

[Correction]

Note that the children involved were with the suspect. There were two toddlers. The victim was driving alone.

[David Lohr]

Thanks for making that clarification about the children.

[Scott]

Good news - see the story in Indystar.com - she was given the maximum sentence of 20 years in jail. She is off the street.