GRAPHIC: Details Emerge in Brutal Assault of 81-Year-Old San Angelo Woman

SAN ANGELO, TX— Graphic details have been released regarding the brutal assault of an elderly woman that took place earlier this week. 

Christian Knowlton, 27, was arrested in Fredericksburg by the Fredericksburg Police Department on April 8, 2025, after San Angelo Chief of Police Travis Griffith held a press conference regarding the assault of an elderly woman.

According to court documents, on April 7, 2025, the investigator was called to the 4300 block of Rodeo Drive in San Angelo regarding a call for service for a robbery.

The investigator’s learned the victim was an 81-year-old woman who was Christian Knowlton’s grandmother. Two other women live with the victim at the residence, but they had gone to HEB to purchase groceries.

The victim had taken Knowlton to a parole meeting on the morning of April 7.

One of the women who went to HEB was texting the victim who had last responded at 4:06 p.m. Another text was sent to the victim at 5:09 p.m. that had been delivered but there was not a reply.

Upon the two women’s return to the residence, the victim’s white Jeep Renegade was not at the residence, but the victim was located in the front foyer area of the home.

Blood was observed on the floor and wall of the foyer, and the victim was on her back and had extensive face injuries.

The victim was transported to Shannon Medical Center and was observed on a hospital bed with her face covered in blood, both her eyes were swollen shut and bruised, and she had cuts to her nostril and head. She was unresponsive, unconscious, and intubated.

The investigator spoke with Shannon personnel and learned the victim sustained fractures to her face and a brain bleed. The victim had to be transported to a separate hospital for further treatment.

A search warrant was obtained for the residence, and evidentiary items were seized including a kitchen knife that appeared to have blood on it. Also, the investigator noticed a purse on a recliner that had several contents including credit cards and an iPhone. There were no apparent signs of forced entry into the residence, and the house seemed to be in overall order with no items overturned or out of place.

A San Angelo police officer stated in a report that a resident on Rodeo Street observed a white Jeep Renegade pull into the driveway at 3:30 p.m. The time for the call of service came through at 5:29 p.m.

The investigator believes that Knowlton was the last known individual to be with the victim inside of the residence when the incident occurred.

Knowlton is currently in the Gillispie County Jail after being arrested by the Fredericksburg Police Department being held on $1.5 million bond.