SPOKANE -- The woman attacked along the Centennial Trail last week said she is ready to move forward.
Doctors removed the stitches from Debbie Watkins’ head on Friday, just a little more than a week after she was attacked while walking near Mission park.
Police arrested Avondre Graham for the assault. A Good Samaritan in the area heard Watkins’ screams and chased Graham into the Spokane River. Officers arrested Graham a short time later.
Graham is also expected to be formally charged with Second Degree Murder for the stabbing death of Sharlotte McGill last May.
Watkins, who just recently moved to Spokane, said the experience has not tainted her view on living here, but she plans to be more guarded in public.
“I don’t know if I’m going to go walking that way any time soon, I’ll go the other direction,” she said.
Watkins believes her attack happened for a reason. She said she is at peace knowing Graham is off the streets, and plans to follow the McGill murder investigation
"If this is what I had to go through so they could catch this person that killed Sharlotte, I'm good with that," she said.
Watkins plans to return to work on Sunday.
