A report on Q13 Fox News says a 19 year old woman was the victim of a hate crime in Magnolia. The woman says she was attacked near her Magnolia home when three suspects yelled racial slurs and demeaning words while beating her.
The attack happened Monday afternoon. Hannah Geiger says she was walking to the Magnolia Community Center about two and a half blocks from her house when the suspects jumped her.
“They kicked me and hit me, they hit me in the face where these bruises are, they got me almost all over. My back hurts from being kicked in the spine,” said Geiger. “I’m sure it’s a hate crime and that’s what gets to me, I don’t understand hate.”
Her mother Ruth Geiger is the pastor at the Magnolia United Methodist Church. She told the TV station that her daughter is a Special Olympian who had just won a silver medal and would much rather show off her medals instead of the deep bruises on her body.
Ruth Geirger can’t figure out why anyone would want to harm her special needs daughter. “It’s hard for me to understand why somebody would do something to someone, anyone, but certainly someone who is as wonderful as she is,” said Geiger.
Ruth adopted Hannah from Haiti as an infant with serious medical problems. But she’s overcome many of those ailments except a seizure disorder that requires brain surgery this summer.
“They were racial slurs and slurs about her mental capacity calling her stupid,” said Geiger.
Hannah has won 16 medals at the Special Olympics and all she wants to do is have fun and compete as an athlete. She has one simple question for the men who tried taking away all of her glory.
“All I would do is ask why,” said Geiger.
The attackers are described as white men in their late teens or 20’s with blonde hair. They were possibly driving a Honda. If you witnessed the attack or the suspects about 3:30 PM on Monday near the Magnolia Community Center call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
15 responses so far ↓
1 Neighbor // Jun 6, 2009 at 8:55 pm
This is very disturbing. I’m sorry to hear this happened to Hannah. Hannah you are 100 times better and wiser than these boys that attacked you!
2 dd // Jun 7, 2009 at 9:36 am
Can’t you just imagine what people would like to do to these kids if they are caught?
There was a recent news release what some people did to a guy that raped an eleven year old. Somtimes we need justice like that.
The judicial systems take too long and the punishments are too light.
3 Boy This Makes Me Mad !! // Jun 7, 2009 at 5:17 pm
This makes me so angry…full of a rage that I rarely experience. The actions of those imbeciles is really beyond comprehension. I wonder what the parents of these hoodlums are like to have raised such jerks?
4 dd // Jun 7, 2009 at 8:56 pm
I cannot understand why more people in Magnolia are not upset by a terrible thing like this. Why hasn’t there been anything in the news about this ?
5 Drew // Jun 8, 2009 at 9:13 am
Hannah, I’m in awe of how many medals you’ve won in the special olympics - congratulations! I think it’s horrible what those guys did - there are some truly awful people in the world. I hope you feel better soon.
6 this is so sad // Jun 8, 2009 at 12:04 pm
i can’t beleive it! What the hell is going on over there? I am on vacation right now to the east coast and this is just unbeleivable. Those boys need a good ass woopin and am I hearing right that there was some kind of “drive by”?? Keep on the lookout people. There should be better descriptions than that if it happened at 330pm right after school let out?!
7 Heidi // Jun 9, 2009 at 12:07 pm
Let’s make Hannah the Magnolia Summerfest Queen. Doesn’t make up for what happened to her, but I’d like to see her be honored for her athletic achievement.
8 My Thoughts // Jun 9, 2009 at 7:28 pm
I agree Heidi! Lets help Hannah know that we all support her!!
Who’s with us?
9 Mike Mushkin // Jun 11, 2009 at 6:58 am
That attack was from a few cowards, I’m so sorry that thay found their (courage) when no one was around, but again they are Cowards.
Hope fully they will fine that what goes around, comes around .
Good luck young lady, there is alot of love in this wonderful community
10 Aimee // Jun 12, 2009 at 2:45 pm
This is horrific — I can’t believe the kind of things that are happening in our community. 1) Parents, lets be more aware of how your children think and how our attitudes and behaviour might rub off on /influence them. Let’s be responsible for our youth. 2) Community, let’s stand up and not allow this type of thing to happen. Maybe organize a anti-hate crime group or block watch once a week? I just moved to Magnolia and I’m appalled by this. Anyone interested in brainstorming with ideas can reach me at: tears_n_rain@hotmail.com.
11 Peace // Jun 13, 2009 at 7:48 pm
I hope Magnolia’s black community recovers quickly from this terrible incident.
12 jm // Jun 13, 2009 at 10:39 pm
The people that did this are not men. They are scum that need to have their behinds beat to a pulp. Magnolia, you are disgusting!
13 Beezes // Jun 14, 2009 at 9:55 am
Who would have thought Magnolia would home to so much hate?
14 maria // Jun 14, 2009 at 8:02 pm
All those cars driving down 34th avenue west right after school let out at 3pm and NOONE saw anything??!! I am so pissed~
15 maria // Jun 18, 2009 at 3:49 pm
I couldn’t finish reading the initial story without balling at the computer. My son wanted to know why I was crying and said he knows Hannah. I told him everything so he will be aware. He is not white and is just starting to get a little freedom at 11 years old. I am not letting him ride his bike to and from school until further notice.
I was really sad and think that we need to be focusing on how to catch these people and how to keep our kids safe. We don’t even know if this boys live here. If they do it won’t be tolerated. Actually, I am very frustrated that we have very little information on this.
Thank you Magnolians who made the BBQ happen for Hannah. I am proud of you!
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009352517_webgeiger18m.html
Hopefully if some little kids saw what happened now they can see how important this is and tell their parents and the police. We don’t have a lot of information and we weren’t there when it happened.
Now that people are aware that this happened this will only help with the investigation and have people be on the lookout!
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