BRUNSWIK, MAINE: In a remarkable display of courage, an 87-year-old woman named Marjorie Perkins managed to fend off an intruder who had entered her home in Brunswick, Maine. The incident occurred at around 2 am on July 26. Perkins, awakened by the presence of the young man standing over her bed, bravely confronted him despite her age. She heard him saying, “I’m going to cut you,” according to the Brunswick Times Record.
Marjorie Perkins valiantly defended herself during the harrowing attack by quickly grabbing a chair, using it as a makeshift shield, and raising an alarm by screaming for help. Tragically, there was no one else in the vicinity to hear her cries.
Perkins' fight with intruder
Despite her efforts, the teenager forcefully pushed and repeatedly struck her, resulting in at least one bruising blow to her forehead. Responding with tremendous courage, Perkins fought back by kicking him and using the chair to keep a distance, successfully preventing him from getting closer to her.
As the ordeal progressed, the young intruder seemed to grow fatigued and eventually left the room. He moved to the kitchen, during which time Perkins observed that he was without pants or shoes. She realized that he had stacked his clothing and a knife – belonging to him – alongside her window air-conditioning unit. He had removed the unit to create an opening through which he could gain entry.
‘People aren't afraid of anything anymore’
The unexpected turn of events took an even more surprising twist when the intruder said he was "awfully hungry" and hadn't eaten for quite some time. Responding with remarkable compassion, Marjorie Perkins offered the young man peanut butter and honey crackers, protein drinks, and tangerines. She managed to call 911 while maintaining a conversation with an operator. The intruder eventually left, collecting his trousers along with his belongings. Police apprehended him nearby with the assistance of police dogs.
The teenage intruder now faces charges including burglary, criminal threatening, assault, and underage drinking. Meanwhile, Perkins has become something of an international figure after the incident. Despite the attack, she is determined to stay in the home she has lived in for over four decades, while reflecting on concerns about rising crime rates. She said, "I think our law has just folded up. People aren't afraid of anything anymore. They feel they can do as they please."
