Anthony Jones Sentenced to Life for Venice Canals Attacks

Anthony Francisco Jones, a 30-year-old homeless man, has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder of Sarah Alden and the sexual assault of another woman, Mary Klein, in the Venice Canals area of Los Angeles. The brutal attacks occurred on April 6, where Jones was recorded on surveillance footage attacking the women with a liquor bottle, leading to Alden's fatal injuries and Klein's severe trauma. Alden, who recently signed a lease for a new home, was declared brain dead weeks later after being viciously assaulted. Jones pleaded no contest to multiple charges, including murder and forcible rape, and received an additional 107 years in state prison. District Attorney George Gascón described the crimes as heinous and expressed condolences to the victims' families and the local community. The case has sparked outrage and concern in the Venice area regarding violent crime.