Woman describes terrifying moments after being beaten, stabbed by pen in downtown Miami

A woman who was attacked in an apparent random fit of rage while walking her dog in downtown Miami is sharing her story.

Caitlin Dydzuhn’s unimaginable nightmare unfolded during a mid-morning walk just outside of the luxury condo she lives at right down the road from the Kaseya Center.

“It was pure terror,” said Dydzuhn.

A man she was walking past decided to attack her for no reason, brutally beating her and even stabbing and slashing at her with a pen.

In an exclusive interview with 7News, Dydzuhn said she believed she was going to die as it all happened.

“‘He is going to kill me, whether it’s this next punch, whether it’s the one after,'” she said.

The vicious attack occurred on May 19. Dydzuhn said she still lives the horrors of that attack every night.

“When I’m trying to fall asleep at night, that’s what keeps me up at night, that memory of fighting for my life and knowing that I’m losing. Thinking, ‘Is this next punch going to be the one that kills me?'” she said.

On top of the emotional scars, the violent attack left several physical scars.

Although she’s out of the hospital and on the mend, Dydzuhn suffered wounds all over her face and now has partial blindness in one eye.

She credited a good Samaritan who rushed to her aide, fighting off the attacker, who was later identified as 49-year-old Raydean Johnson.

Johnson was taken into custody by police after a three-hour standoff ended with officers deploying a Taser to bring the man down.

Authorities say Johnson admitted to the attack at some point during the standoff.

Johnson stood before a judge the next day, facing charges for attempted felony murder.

Dydzuhn told 7News one of the more difficult things to process about the attack was the fact it happened just steps away from the building that’s meant to be her sanctuary.

“It’s the most terrifying feeling, to feel helpless, to be screaming on the ground and no one’s coming to help you, not my building security,” she said.

Prominent trial attorney Judd Rosen raised several questions about the security provided by Dydzuhn’s condo, the MarinaBlue building located at 888 Biscayne Boulevard.

“In her own front yard? Where was the security?” said Rosen. “It’s an absolute horror movie.”

He argues security staff at the condo should’ve been monitoring the surrounding areas outside of the tower.

“Where were the cameras? The cameras are blocked by bushes and shrubbery,” said Rosen.

He believes the condo’s security lapses prevented them from spotting Johnson, an individual with a violent criminal past that was known to the area, lingering around the entrance.

“He was a known problem with a known history,” said Rosen. “The building has an obligation to protect and warn against known threats.”

Dydzuhn stepped forward to share her pain in hopes that it helps prevent others from being attacked, especially right outside of their own homes.

“No one should have to live in fear of walking their dog, exercising in their own neighborhood, being a part of their community,” she said.

7News has reached out via email after hours to MarinaBlue for a response about the building’s security measures. As of late Thursday night, we haven’t heard back.