Elderly Woman Stabbed and Robbed, 2 Men Arrested: Fort Lauderdale Police

Men facing attempted murder charges in stabbing of 72-year-old woman

Two men are behind bars on attempted murder charges after they robbed and stabbed an elderly woman in Fort Lauderdale, police said.

Edward Lee Brown, 24, and Andrew Lee Allen Medley, 19, are both charged with attempted felony murder and armed robbery. Both were ordered held without bond during a court appearance Wednesday, and it was unknown whether they have attorneys.

According to Fort Lauderdale Police arrest affidavits, the robbery happened on June 27th when  72-year-old Alysan Reda arrived at her friend Kathy Barrett's home in the 4500 block of Northwest 12th Terrace to have her hair styled.

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As Reda walked from her car to the home, she was suddenly attacked by Brown, who stole her purse and necklace and stabbed her in the torso, the affidavits said.

"I was sitting down having a cup of tea, and my neighbor came banging on my door and said, 'Somebody's been hurt on your driveway,'" Barrett said.

Barrett said she thought Reda had been hit by a car when she saw her bleeding.

Police said Brown got into a car driven by Medley and fled the scene. Reda, who sustained damage to her liver and the loss of her spleen, was rushed to Broward Health Medical Center for emergency surgery.

Later that day, police responded to another robbery involving two suspects using a knife. A police K-9 dog tracked a scent to a home in the 1000 block of Northwest 5th Avenue, where they found a vehicle matching the description from the earlier robbery, the affidavits said.

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Inside the car, on the backseat, was a large knife that appeared to have a red stain on the blade, which later tested positive for blood, the affidavits said.

The car, which was found to have fingerprints matching Brown and Medley, had been rented to a woman who was found in an apartment with Brown and Medley.

Medley was arrested on July 9 after it was learned he had an active warrant,  the affidavits said. When he was questioned by detectives, Medley admitted to driving Brown to area of the robbery and stabbing, and said Brown had left the car and told him to wait for him.

Medley said Brown "returned in a panic" and told him to flee the area, saying he had just robbed a woman, the affidavits said.

Brown was taken into custody and denied being involved in the robbery but admitted to being in the car with Medley and touching the knife, the affidavits said.

Records also showed Brown had been on probation for armed burglary and battery of a victim over age 65, the affidavits showed.

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