A homeless woman is fighting for her life after she was brutally assaulted in Camden.
Investigators say 54-year-old Sharleene Lightfoot was attacked sometime between 10 p.m. Monday and 1 a.m. Tuesday on or near Mount Ephraim Avenue in the area of Sheridan and Jackson streets. They also say more than one person may have been involved in the beating.
“It looked like she was dragged somewhere and beaten several times,” said Camden County Police Captain Greg Carlin.
Despite her severe injuries, Lightfoot miraculously managed to walk to Virtua Hospital and check herself in.
“If it wasn’t for the grace of God getting her to the hospital by herself, she walked there and she collapsed, she wouldn’t be with us today,” said Lightfoot’s sister Rachel Robertson.
Lightfoot’s ears were nearly severed off after the attack. She also suffered several lacerations, head trauma and a collapsed lung. She is currently intubated and in critical condition.
“She has a broken eye socket,” Robertson said. “She has three fractured ribs and her face looks like a watermelon. She has blood on the brain. And someone did this to her.”
Local
Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood.
Several days after the brutal assault, police are still trying to track down the culprits, which has been difficult due to Lightfoot’s condition.
“There were some things that she managed to say,” said Captain Carlin. “It sounded like she was trying to say there was more than one perpetrator. We’re not certain of that.”
Lightfoot is scheduled for another surgery Thursday. After that, police and family members are hoping she’ll be able to provide more details about what happened.
A $1,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest. If you have any information, please call Camden County Police at 215-546-TIPS.
