Special Olympics star brutally beaten by 2 men
SEATTLE -- Police here are investigating the assault of a Special Olympics star by two men who muttered racist words.
Hannah Geiger, 19, was viciously beaten and knocked unconscious by two men in their 20s near the Magnolia Community Center around 3:30 p.m. on June 1.
"After we got back home, she told me what happened and her face was pretty red. She showed me her bruises and told the story," said her mother, Ruthann Geiger.
Nearly two weeks after the attack at a cookout held in Hannah Geiger's honor, her mother remained stunned by the cruelty.
"Feeling a lot of numbness, and I think I still am," she said. "It's just hard to imagine that this would happen to her."
Darrell Drew, president of Magnolia Advisory Council, says the crime reaches beyond the Geiger household.
"It was a crime against a whole community, not just a little girl," he said.
The attack wasn't the first time Hannah Geiger was pushed around. She was born in Haiti where, because of her disabilities, she was abandoned at birth.
Ruthann Geiger adopted the girl as an infant and brought her to Seattle. Here, she grew up to become a Special Olympics star, winning 16 medals.
Hannah Geiger recently won a silver medal in long jump. The next day, she was knocked unconscious by two men.
"The disability I have - I have a seizure disorder," she said. "Having a seizure disorder and being knocked on the ground unconscious isn't exactly very good."
Hannah Geiger is scheduled to undergo surgery next month to have the seizure-inducing part of her brain removed.
And the family is currently dealing with another medical problem. Ruthann Geiger was recently diagnosed with breast cancer.
Finding the men who attacked Hannah Geiger would be one victory in the family's collection of battles.
Anyone with information on the beating is urged to call Seattle police.
Hannah Geiger, 19, was viciously beaten and knocked unconscious by two men in their 20s near the Magnolia Community Center around 3:30 p.m. on June 1.
"After we got back home, she told me what happened and her face was pretty red. She showed me her bruises and told the story," said her mother, Ruthann Geiger.
Nearly two weeks after the attack at a cookout held in Hannah Geiger's honor, her mother remained stunned by the cruelty.
"Feeling a lot of numbness, and I think I still am," she said. "It's just hard to imagine that this would happen to her."
Darrell Drew, president of Magnolia Advisory Council, says the crime reaches beyond the Geiger household.
"It was a crime against a whole community, not just a little girl," he said.
The attack wasn't the first time Hannah Geiger was pushed around. She was born in Haiti where, because of her disabilities, she was abandoned at birth.
Ruthann Geiger adopted the girl as an infant and brought her to Seattle. Here, she grew up to become a Special Olympics star, winning 16 medals.
Hannah Geiger recently won a silver medal in long jump. The next day, she was knocked unconscious by two men.
"The disability I have - I have a seizure disorder," she said. "Having a seizure disorder and being knocked on the ground unconscious isn't exactly very good."
Hannah Geiger is scheduled to undergo surgery next month to have the seizure-inducing part of her brain removed.
And the family is currently dealing with another medical problem. Ruthann Geiger was recently diagnosed with breast cancer.
Finding the men who attacked Hannah Geiger would be one victory in the family's collection of battles.
Anyone with information on the beating is urged to call Seattle police.
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