Victim of Craigslist attack wakes up after 24 days in coma

Mother calls it a 'medical miracle'

MIAMI – A woman who has been in a coma since Valentine’s Day after being attacked by her Craigslist roommate is now awake and interacting with family members.  

Danielle Jones' family is calling the 23-year-old's recovery a miracle, as she's been in a coma for the past 24 days following a brutal attack by her Craigslist roommate Byron Mitchell. She woke up Wednesday morning. 

Jones' mother, Aimee Nikolov, told Local 10 News that her daughter is smiling, whispering and hugging family members. 

"She's smiling, and she gave a thumbs up to me," said Nikolov, who spoke exclusively with Local 10 News reporter Michael Seiden. "She gave her brother a hug."

When Jones woke up at Jackson Memorial Hospital, her family was by her side. 

"Doctors didn't know if Danielle would ever wake up again," Nikolov said. "Thank you, God. What a medical miracle."

Jones' former roommate remains in jail on a charge of attempted murder. Mitchell is claiming self-defense, telling investigators he had no choice but to attack Jones. 

The pair had lived together for a week before the incident that landed Jones in the hospital occurred. 

Prosecutors claim Mitchell snapped. 

"It shouldn't make a difference," Nikolov said. "The crime was still committed. A miracle does not negate a vicious act of crime."

For now, Nikolov is overjoyed that she's slowly getting her daughter back.

"I finally feel like I have my daughter again," she said. "She still has a long way to go, but this is a miracle."

Nikolov added she hopes her daughter will make a full recovery and will be able to speak to investigators.

The family has started a GoFundMe account to help pay for her care and rehabilitation. 


About the Authors:

Andrew Perez is a South Florida native who joined the Local 10 News team in May 2014.