OAKLAND PARK, Fla. – She was simply feeding stray cats behind an Oakland Park McDonalds when she was attacked.
Her face was shattered in several places.
She is still recovering physically and mentally but agreed to speak with Local 10 News.
Maria Ouverney said she is finally able to talk about the attack.
“A lot, I cry,” she said. “I’m afraid of a lot of things.”
The last time we saw Maria was back in January.
She spent eight days in the hospital after she was ambushed and beaten.
Her face was smashed, and her jaw had to be wired shut for weeks.
Her attacker left her for dead after jumping her while she fed stray cats.
“I remember a little bit,” she said. “Sometimes I forget. When I woke up in the hospital, I said, ‘Oh my God, help me.’”
Days after the attack, Antonio Romano was found in Port St. Lucie and charged with attempted murder and carjacking in connection to Maria’s incident.
It was then learned that hours before he attacked Maria, Romano allegedly killed 60-year-old lliane Alzenord in her Oakland Park home.
“I’m lucky, he thinks I’m dead,” Maria said. “He left me because he thinks I’m dead.”
Before the attack, the 63-year-old would feed four feral cat colonies a day, around 130 cats, all on a housekeeper’s salary.
Now, this animal advocate can only feed one. She is afraid of driving, and afraid of people.
Maria will need more surgeries to repair an eye socket. She can’t tilt her head down due to the severe pain.
“My face was broken in three places,” she said. “My mouth doesn’t open too big anymore.”
After the attack, over $60,000 was raised though a GoFundMe page.
Maria expressed gratitude to all the people who helped in her time of need.
“Thank you very much,” she said. “I’m very happy and (it) helped me a lot.”
RELATED STORY
Animal advocate needs help after man’s savage attack as she fed cats in Broward