On Friday evening, October 9, 2026, Olivia Neri, Joanne’s daughter, a college student, was finishing up work when her life changed in an instant. After getting into her car, Olivia noticed an employee standing nearby and offered a ride. As they approached the area where he asked to be dropped off, he suddenly pulled out a knife and in that instant, Olivia said his face seemed to change completely, morphing into something she could only describe as demonic. He attacked her inside her car. Olivia was stabbed, strangled with her seatbelt, and suffered devastating injuries before managing to unbuckle herself, open the door, and escape the moving car to get help. Bleeding heavily, she pressed her sweater to her neck and called out to bystanders until help arrived. She was taken to a local hospital, received a blood transfusion, and was then airlifted to Albany Medical Center, where she underwent emergency surgery.

The attack lacerated Olivia’s left carotid artery and left a wound across the front of her neck that nicked her trachea. Her left ear was also sliced and later required plastic surgery. Surgeons were able to repair the artery, but blood flow through that area is still reduced, and she will need blood thinners as she heals. Along with the physical pain and deep exhaustion she is living with each day, Olivia is also coping with the impact these neck and trachea injuries have had on her voice and on simple parts of daily life that most people take for granted. Speaking, resting, and trying to regain a sense of normalcy now come with real physical and emotional strain. As a college student, this attack has disrupted her health, her schooling, and her ability to work while she recovers.

How support will help: funds raised will help cover Olivia’s medical expenses, ongoing care, and recovery needs as she heals physically and emotionally from this traumatic attack. As a longtime friend of Joanne and her family, Samantha is asking for help to ease the financial burden and give Olivia the time, care, and support she needs to focus on healing. Any donation or share of this fundraiser would mean so much to Olivia and to everyone who loves her.