College grad fighting to walk again after Marine allegedly attacks her during home break-in

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT/Gray News) - A recent college graduate is fighting to walk again months after she was paralyzed in a brutal attack by a suspect who broke into her relatives’ home.

Savannah Johnson’s parents say she was staying with relatives in Wilmington, North Carolina, when she was brutally attacked by a man who broke into the home.

Wilmington Police named 26-year-old Isaac Ruiz as the suspect in the case. He is charged with assault by strangulation, assault inflicting serious bodily injury and first-degree burglary. The 2nd Marine Division confirmed he was a Marine stationed at Camp Lejeune.

While Ruiz sits behind bars, Savannah Johnson remains in a hospital bed, hoping she will one day be able to walk again.

Attack leaves victim paralyzed from the neck down

Just two months ago, Savannah Johnson’s life seemed to be on a great track. She graduated from college in Michigan, where she is from, with dreams of being an artist.

“Her artwork is phenomenal; even in her sophomore year, they said she should be working professionally,” said her father, Ricky Johnson.

Savannah Johnson was visiting relatives in Wilmington and looking for job opportunities when the June 15 attack happened, her father says. Ruiz allegedly broke into her relatives’ home and brutally attacked the college graduate.

“My niece called and was screaming, ‘Savannah, Savannah, unconscious,’” said Savannah’s mother, Amanda Johnson.

“I went through every emotion from worrying about my daughter to anger,” Ricky Johnson said.

Savannah Johnson suffered multiple serious injuries, including a severed artery, spinal cord and a crushed vertebra. She remains in a Chicago hospital with her parents at her side.

“We were told she was paralyzed from the neck down,” Amanda Johnson said.

“You see those stories on Dateline, and you always have empathy for the parents that go through these types of things, and you wonder how they do it,” Ricky Johnson said. “You never think you’ll be in that situation.”

Despite her injuries and a long recovery ahead, Savannah Johnson is in great spirits, her parents say. She believes she will walk and be able to create art again. Her goal is to walk back into the hospital in Wilmington one day to thank the doctors who saved her life.

For now, Savannah Johnson’s movements are coming back day by day.

“She’s giving it her all,” her mother said. “Savannah even said even though it was a terrible thing that happened, so much more good has come out of this. It outweighs the bad act he did to her.”

The Johnsons say both their community back home in Michigan and the Wilmington community have been a huge support. They say complete strangers reached out and offered them a car and a place to stay while their daughter was in the hospital for more than a month.

There are multiple fundraisers to help pay for Savannah Johnson’s medical costs. To donate to her GoFundMe, click here. To buy a “Savannah Strong” T-shirt, click here.