The Brief
- A woman fought off a violent intruder during a brutal DeKalb County home invasion in late January.
- Jena Salem survived being choked, punched, sexually assaulted and stabbed before running to a neighbor for help.
- The suspect, Derrick Burnstine, was arrested nearby and faces multiple charges after being denied bond.
DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. – An Atlanta medical resident is sharing her story of survival after being choked, stabbed, and sexually assaulted during a violent rental home invasion in DeKalb County.
Jena Salem woke up in late January to the sound of heavy footsteps in her hallway along Atherton Circle. The attacker, identified by DeKalb County police as Derrick Burnstine, had cut off the electricity to her rental home before jumping onto her bed without a mask.
DeKalb County police investigation
What we know:
Burnstine ordered Salem to take off her pants, but she attempted to run toward the front door, which was locked. The intruder grabbed her in a forearm chokehold and strangled her until she was unable to make a noise.…