Teen Who Bound, Beat Senior Citizen In Chester County To Be Tried As Adult

The Delaware County teen who is accused of binding and beating a 72-year-old Chester County woman for days back in February will stand trial to face several felony charges as an adult.

The 17 year old from Media, identified as Khemmathat Fariss, will be tried as an adult in the case that rocked the area earlier this year.

Fariss has been charged with attempted homicide, robbery, burglary, aggravated assault, strangulation, and related charges, according to the Chester County District Attorney.

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, the Delaware County Daily Times reports.

Fariss escaped Devereux Brandywine, a behavioral health facility, on Feb. 22 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.

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, 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.

With reporting by Patch correspondent Max Bennett

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