FIU Beating Victim Asks For Help Finding Attacker

NORTH MIAMI, FL — Fifteen-year-old Bela Perdomo had signs of eye trauma and was wearing a cast on her left arm when she made her way into the crowded conference room at Florida International University's Biscayne Bay Campus library on Wednesday. Her mother said the honor student was experiencing hearing loss, vision problems and had trouble getting caught up with her studies since she was brutally attacked earlier this month with another student along a remote waterfront path.

"It was completely random," said the teenager who was hospitalized for a time after the attack along with her fellow student and friend. "Out of nowhere we were both attacked."

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Her mother said she believes the attack was sexually motivated based on statements the attacker made to Bela.

"The darkest moment was probably during the attack, and I was just thinking 'okay let me try not to die.' I was thinking maybe he'd throw us in the bay," said Bela. "I was trying to think what his intentions were during the attack, and how to get around them."

Her injuries were so severe that Bela's mother recalled not knowing whether her daughter would live or die.

"My heart dropped. I've never been so scared in my life," her mother confided. "She had two gigantic gashes in her head. They weren't lacerations. They were gashes and she required a lot stitches. The ICU nurses and doctors could not tell me if she was going to be okay or not. I asked several times and they said that they couldn't be sure, that they had to run a lot of tests and that they were doing the best they could."

FIU police also released an updated artist's sketch of the man suspected in the brutal attack. Both students attend the Marine Academy of Science and Technology (MAST) high school that is located on the FIU campus.

Bela had previously been selected by Local 10 News as an "Eco Hero" for an environmental project. She told the television station in an earlier interview that her attacker assured her she would not be harmed if she took off her clothes.

"He said, 'Don't worry. Don't worry. I'm not going to kill you. Just take off your clothes and you'll be fine. I won't kill you,'" she said in the interview. "But, if you don't take off your clothes, then I'll have to kill you.' And he was kind of talking like that."

James Critz, the other student who was attacked did not speak with reporters on Wednesday.

Their attacker was described as possibly a Hispanic male, 18 to 20 years of age with a medium-dark complexion, short, cropped black hair and brown eyes. He was approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall and last seen wearing a white T-shirt and black cargo pants.

Watch below as Bela Perdomo speaks about the emotional scars she experienced from her attack:

Perdomo told reporters that she didn't know if her attacker was a student.

To report a tip, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477 (305-471-TIPS), visit www.crimestoppersmiami.com and select "Give a Tip" or text "CSMD" followed by the tip information to 274637.

Beating victim Bela Perdomo (right) and her mother appeal for help in finding the man who brutally attacked Bela and another student. Photo and video by Paul Scicchitano.