'I can't be weak': Woman details surviving DeKalb County home invasion

DeKalb County brutal home invasion

A DeKalb County medical resident successfully defended her life after being strangled, sexually assaulted and stabbed inside her rental home, according to police.

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. - A woman living in DeKalb County is sharing her survival fighting back against a home intruder, who, she says, broke into her home, choked her, sexually assaulted her and slit her neck.

Violent DeKalb County home invasion

What we know:

DeKalb County Police said the home invasion and stabbing occurred at a home along Atherton Circle in January. 

The suspect, Derrick Burnstine, was arrested not far from the home and currently faces charges that include home invasion and aggravated assault.

What they're saying:

Jena Salem said she was renting the Atherton Circle home while working to complete her residency at several hospitals across metro Atlanta. 

DeKalb County Police said the suspect, Derrick Burnstine, cut off the electricity to the home before the attack. 

"I immediately woke up from a dead sleep to heavy footsteps in my hallway. My first thing I thought was that, 'Oh, my God, someone's in my house,'" Salem said.

Salem added that the attacker told her to remove her pants, but she used that moment to attempt to escape through the front door, which was locked.

"He grabs me with his forearm in a chokehold, and he just starts immediately strangling me as hard as he can," Salem said. "I can't even make a noise. I'm trying to scream for someone to hear me. I can't even make a noise."

Salem said the attacker then forced her into the basement, punched her multiple times, and sexually assaulted her when she begged for her life.

Salem said the man then put her in another chokehold and slit her neck with a kitchen knife.

"For the rest of my life, until the day that I die, I will have the scar on my neck," Salem said. 

Salem was also stabbed in the chest, causing her lung to collapse. She continued to fight back until the knife broke, eventually running out the front door to a neighbor who called for help. Medics took her to Grady Memorial Hospital, which was one of the locations where she worked while completing her post-medical school residency.

Survivor shares message of empowerment

What they're saying:

Salem is sharing her survival story to raise awareness about violence against women.

"I just feel so strongly that the only way that violence against women is ever going to stop happening, or that people are going to recognize that it is happening the way that it is, is you speak out, when survivors can speak out, when they feel comfortable and empowered to, and I do," Salem said. "I feel so strongly that people need to know that this happened to me."

Relocating for a new position

What's next:

Salem is currently preparing to move out of the area to begin a new job in another state.