A planned getaway to see an Eagles concert ended in horror for 27-year-old California mother Kailee Woods, who survived a violent attack at a Las Vegas hotel.
On September 22, while staying alone at the Plaza Hotel, Woods faced a life-threatening assault that left her with serious injuries, and her family now speaks out to raise awareness about the dangers she faced.
Unsettling Encounter Outside the Hotel
Woods reported to police that as she stood outside the hotel casino, a young man approached her, asking to borrow her cellphone, saying he was separated from his friends and had a dead phone.
Seeing a polite, well-dressed individual, she agreed to help, briefly handing over her phone.
Assuming their interaction had ended, Woods headed back to her room, but he followed her, turning up on her floor.
Brutal Attack in the Hallway
Hours later, around 3:30 a.m., Woods found herself face-to-face with her alleged attacker in the hallway near her room.
Frustrated by his persistence, she suggested he go to the lobby for assistance.
When he then requested pen and paper to record numbers he had called from her phone, she turned to find some for him.
That’s when she noticed a black shoelace in his hands—a detail that signaled danger.
Moments later, he lunged at her, wrapping the shoelace around her neck as she fought to escape.
Woods eventually fell unconscious, with the assault continuing until help arrived.
A Timely Rescue by Nearby Guests
Two guests, hearing the commotion from a nearby room, opened their door and found Woods unconscious on the ground.
Her attacker fled, leaving behind a black shoelace and an orange band.
Woods was rushed to University Medical Center and placed in the ICU.
Doctors later informed her family that just a few more seconds of strangulation could have been fatal.
Family’s Response and Legal Action
Woods’ sister, Kristal Miller, explained that Woods was left traumatized, now struggling with PTSD and unable to continue working as a home health aide.
Miller expressed frustration with the Plaza Hotel’s initial response, which reportedly mischaracterized the incident as a domestic altercation.
Security footage, however, confirmed that the attack was a random act by a stranger who managed to follow Woods undetected to her floor.
The family plans to pursue legal action against the hotel, concerned about security protocols that allowed the assailant to access guest floors without a room key.
Suspect Arrested and Awaiting Trial
The attacker, identified as 21-year-old Antonio Cortez Hernandez, was arrested weeks later and faces charges of attempted murder, battery by strangulation, and battery with a deadly weapon.
He is being held on a $500,000 bond and awaits a court appearance on November 15 for an evaluation of his mental fitness for trial.
Trauma and a Warning for Others
Woods, a single mom to a seven-year-old son, now faces lasting trauma from the attack, and her sister hopes sharing this ordeal will remind others to remain vigilant.
“We believe what he did showed premeditation,” Miller stated, adding that her family hopes the court’s judgment will ensure the attacker is held accountable for his actions.
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