Fale Pea, 42, faces first-degree assault charges in Seattle, Washington, for allegedly attacking 75-year-old Jeanette Marken with a wooden board equipped with a protruding screw outside King County Courthouse on December 5, 2025, severely injuring her right eye and causing partial blindness. Court records indicate he pleaded not guilty, underwent a competency evaluation, and was ruled fit to stand trial as of December 29. He remains in custody on $1 million bail, with a trial slated for early 2026.
Attack Details
Surveillance video captured Pea approaching Marken, who was waiting to cross Third Avenue for a food pickup, before swinging the board and striking her eye, gouging it out. Bystanders photographed him and aided her until police arrested him nearby; body cam footage revealed officers recognized him as a “regular” and “notorious” for random assaults on the street, including prior convictions like stabbing someone eight times.
Victim and Family Response
Marken required hospitalization, where doctors confirmed permanent vision loss in her right eye and possible further surgery. Her son, Andrius Vyrikis, expressed outrage over the incident and systemic failures in managing repeat offenders, questioning how such violence could occur unchecked in a busy downtown area. The random nature of the attack has heightened concerns about public safety near the courthouse.
