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Grandmother Fatally Punched Outside Home
31 Jul
Summary
- Grandmother Susan Gehrke died days before her 62nd birthday.
- She was allegedly attacked by a stranger outside her apartment.
- The suspect faces a second-degree murder charge.
Susan Gehrke, a cherished grandmother and two-time cancer survivor, tragically died on July 29 after a violent assault near her Tucson, Arizona apartment. She was 61 and just days away from her 62nd birthday.
On July 24, Gehrke was sitting on her apartment complex's patio with another individual when a 27-year-old man allegedly approached them. According to reports, the suspect, Dahseir Edward Jefferson, punched Gehrke in the face with such force that her dentures dislodged as she fell, striking her head. This resulted in life-threatening brain injuries.
Jefferson was arrested on July 28 and initially charged with two counts of aggravated assault. Following Gehrke's death, prosecutors amended one charge to second-degree murder. He is currently being held on a $650,000 bond at the Pima County Adult Detention Complex.
Gehrke's family expressed their profound grief, stating their hearts are "completely shattered." They remembered her as a "beacon of light" who tirelessly worked and prioritized her family. She was on the verge of retirement, a milestone she eagerly anticipated sharing with her children and grandchildren, a future tragically cut short.
