Delco Man Who Bound, Beat Woman Gets 20 To 80 Years In Prison

MEDIA, PA — The Delaware County man who bound and beat a 72-year-old Chester County woman for days in February 2017 will spend up to 80 years in prison, according to the Chester County District Attorney's Office.

Khemmathat Fariss, 19, of Media, was sentenced to 20 to 80 years in prison for attempted murder, burglary, and related charges, the Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan said.

Fariss was charged when he was just 17 years old, but was tried as an adult.

"The victim is one of the strongest people that I have ever met," Hogan said. "She is a counselor. She survived physically and mentally. She was supported by her family throughout. She has continued to live her life. I gave her the DA's pin that I wear, which legend has it will protect the wearer from all harm. She wore it to the sentencing."

The decision to try Fariss as an adult came from Chester County Judge John Hall who argued Fariss' background with burglaries and escaping supervised facilities makes him a danger to the public.

Fariss escaped Devereux Brandywine, a behavioral health facility, on Feb. 22, 2017, and headed to an East Brandywine Township home on the 100 block of Creek Road in the early morning hours, according to the DA. The resident, a 72-year-old woman, was not at home between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., and that's when the suspect burglarized the home, stealing credit cards, officials said.

"This juvenile engaged in a brutal attack on the victim, then showed callous disregard for her life," DA Tom Hogan said. "(He) is lucky that the victim did not die. If the victim had not been found by her family, the defendant would be facing murder charges."

Later that night at around 7:30 p.m., as she walked back into her home, the 17-year-old attacked

her from behind, the DA said. He strangled her as she fought back and said, "You'll be with Jesus soon." The woman eventually passed out.

He then covered her head with a shopping bag,and tied her arms behind her back with zip ties, duct tape, and cloth, the DA said. Then he tossed her into a storage space underneath the steps.
That was Wednesday night. She stayed there, without food and water, until she was discovered on Sunday morning, Feb. 26, when a family member checked in on her.

Authorities said the woman was rushed to Paoli Hospital, where she was treated for dehydration, malnourishment, and blunt force injuries sustained in the assault. She is going to survive, police said.

"The victim showed remarkable courage and resilience in surviving the ordeal," the DA said. "She is strong physically and mentally, and will recover with the help of her family.

Police were able to trace the suspect because he used the victim's stolen credit cards in Maryland. Store footage shows his face as he makes the purchase. Further evidence ties a pair of boots in his possession to distinctive footprints left at the scene.

He was arrested on March 1, 2017, the DA's office said.

Fariss also has a history of burglaries.

He had two Delaware County burglaries adjudicated in October 2016.

Fariss was ordered attend Glen Mills School for delinquent juveniles and to be on Delaware County GPS system, but he fled those programs Oct. 30. He was later found walking on Interstate 95 near the Delaware-Maryland border with drug paraphernalia and items stolen from a burglary.

After that, he was sent to Devereux Brandywine campus where he was living when the most recent incident occurred.